Eintracht Frankfurt vs. FC Köln preview: Can the hosts clinch their first league win of the season?
Eintracht Frankfurt will look to claim their first Bundesliga victory of the season when they play host to a FC Köln side who are unbeaten in their first two league games.
| Oliver Glasner. | Photo: Sven Mandel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt are looking for their first win of the Bundesliga season after taking one point from their opening two matches.
They began the season with a 4-0 win over Magdeburg in the first-round of the DFB-Pokal, but their Bundesliga campaign got off to a poor start as they lost 6-1 to Bayern Munich. A 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup followed before they picked up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Hertha BSC last weekend. Daichi Kamada equalised in the second half against Hertha to cancel out Suat Serdar's opener.
The hosts enter Sunday's contest in the relegation playoff place, and they will be desperate to clinch their first win of the Bundesliga season against Köln.
Confidence may be at a premium in the home dressing room after failing to win any of their previous 10 Bundesliga matches. Although, they can take confidence from the fact they have won five of their last seven Bundesliga home games against Köln.
With three of their next four Bundesliga games taking place at home, Frankfurt may believe they have a chance to enjoy a run of positive results over the next few weeks.
Team News
The hosts are expected to be without the services of Ajdin Hrustic and Jerome Onguene due to hip problems, while a hamstring injury will also sideline Almamy Toure.
FC Köln
Köln have experienced a mixed start to the new season, taking four points from their two league games, but losing in the DFB-Pokal and Europa Conference League.
They lost on penalties to Jahn Regensburg in the first-round of the Pokal, but they bounced back with a 3-1 win over Schalke on the opening day of the Bundesliga season.
Steffen Baumgart's side avoided defeat against Leipzig last weekend, coming from behind on two occasions to draw 2-2, and as a result of their four-point haul from their opening two games, they enter Sunday's contest in ninth position.
Despite starting positively in the league, Köln have left themselves a mountain to climb in their Europa Conference League playoff tie against Fehervar FC after losing the home leg 2-1 on Thursday. Florian Dietz gave his side the lead, but goals from Budu Zivzivadze and Pal Dárdai ensured the visitors will take a one-goal lead back to Hungary for Thursday's second leg.
Although Köln may have one eye on the second leg, they will also be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season, and they will attempt to claim their first away win of the campaign on Sunday.
Team News
The visitors have no new injury concerns, although they are unable to call upon Mark Uth, who is currently sidelined with a groin problem.
