Köln vs. RB Leipzig preview: Can the hosts boost their survival hopes?
Köln will attempt to end a five-game winless run when they welcome RB Leipzig to the RheinEnergieStadion for Friday’s Bundesliga contest.
| Photo: 1. FC Köln |
Köln
Köln have gone five games without a win since beating Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of February. In their most recent outing, Die Geißböcke played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Faride Alidou netted a brace to give Köln a 2-1 lead, before Robin Hack scored two goals in as many minutes to turn the game in Gladbach’s favour. However, there proved to be one final twist as Damion Downs netted a 79th-minute equaliser to ensure Timo Schultz’s side left Borussia-Park with a point to show for their efforts.
Although they managed to avoid defeat last weekend, Köln are still languishing in the relegation playoff spot. They are currently two points better off than Mainz in 17th place and are seven points adrift of safety. Following last week’s away trip, Köln are now set to return to the RheinEnergieStadion, where they have lost three of their previous four home matches.
Having failed to win any of their previous five meetings, the hosts are hoping to beat Leipzig for the first time since recording a 2-1 victory in April 2021.
Team News
The hosts are without the injured trio of Justin Diehl, Luca Waldschmidt and Mark Uth. Timo Hübers and Jan Thielmann are both suspended, while Linton Maina and Dejan Ljubicic are doubts due to illness.
RB Leipzig
Leipzig have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent weeks, having lost just one of their last six Bundesliga matches. In their most recent meeting, a Thomas Isherwood own goal and a Christoph Baumgartner effort secured Leipzig a 2-0 home win over basement side Darmstadt. As a result of the victory, fifth-placed Leipzig remain one point adrift of Borussia Dortmund in fourth position.
Die Roten Bullen will now continue their top-four push with a trip to the RheinEnergieStadion, where they will attempt to claim their first away win over Köln since June 2020. Although Leipzig have won just one of their last five away league games, that solitary victory did take place in their most recent Bundesliga road trip against Bochum.
The visitors have will certainly fancy their chances of claiming all three points after cruising to a dominant 6-0 victory in October’s reverse fixture.
Team News
Leipzig are still unable to call upon Lukas Klosterman, who has missed the last four matches due to a hip problem.
