FC Köln vs. Mainz 05 preview: Can die Nullfünfer continue their unbeaten run?
Mainz 05 will look to extend their unbeaten run to nine games when they face FC Köln on Sunday.
| Bo Svensson. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/David Geieregger |
FC Köln
Köln will head into Saturday's contest in a positive mood after they ended a six-game winless run with a 3-1 away victory over Augsburg last weekend. Ellyes Skhiri, Eric Martel and Linton Maina all found the net to get Steffen Baumgart's side back to winning ways.
With Köln currently seven points clear of the bottom three, they appear to be in no danger of being relegated, but Baumgart will still be keen for his side to finish the campaign with a positive run of results.
Having failed to score in their last three home games, Die Geißböcke will be searching for an improvement in the final third on Saturday. The hosts can take confidence from the fact that they have lost just one of their last 11 Bundesliga home meetings with Mainz.
Team News
Sebastian Andersson, Mark Uth and Florian Dietz are all ruled out through injury, while Skhiri will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Mainz 05
Mainz head into the final seven games of the season with a realistic chance of qualifying for European competition. Bo Svensson's side have been in fine form in the last couple of months, embarking on an eight-game unbeaten run, consisting of five wins and three draws.
In their most recent outing, die Nullfünfer were involved in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen, where all four goals arrived after the 85th-minute mark.
Ludovic Ajorque's opening was cancelled out by Jens Stage, before Mainz retook the lead in the third minute of stoppage time through Nelson Weiper. Mainz looked to have secured all three points, but there was to be one more twist in the tale as Niclas Füllkrug found an equaliser in the 95th minute.
Mainz are currently sitting in eighth place with two points separating them from the top six. Nullfünfer will attempt to continue their European push by claiming a league double over Köln after easing to a 5-0 victory in the reverse fixture.
Team News
The visitors are without the services of Marcus Ingvartsen and Jonathan Burkardt due to injury issues.