Eintracht Frankfurt vs. 1. FC Köln preview: Hütter seeks first home win against Rhine derby winners

Eintracht Frankfurt are looking for their first home win as they commence matchday 6 against Köln, who are yet to pick up a point away from home.

Eintracht Frankfurt 

The Eagles suffered a déjà vu last week as they lost 6-0 at RB Leipzig for the second season running. The scoreline also brought memories to how Adi Hütter's side ended their pre-season – a 7-0 loss at Premier League side Brentford.

The Austrian found out quickly that this will be far more difficult than his first spell at the club, with the issues at the back not helped with the departures of key defensive players like Arthur Theate and Ellyes Skhiri. Meanwhile, the game at RedBull Arena was the first time his side failed to score in a competitive fixture.

Before next week's Topspiel action in Dortmund and facing HSV in two competitions, Hütter will hope to secure his first home victory under the floodlights. Frankfurt's solitary win of the season came away at Mainz on matchday 3.

Team News

Malik Pimpong will stay on the sidelines, while Jeremiaha Maluze could return to the squad for the first time in over a month. Hütter is expected to make several changes from the Leipzig defeat, although he confirmed the captain Robin Koch will keep his place in defense.

Raphael Onyedika is already one yellow card away from suspension as he was cautioned four times in his first five Bundesliga appearances.

Köln 

Said El Mala helped Köln to a massive three points last week at the expense of neighbors Borussia Mönchengladbach. The first win since the opening matchday also boosted Rene Wagner's chances of staying at the job after a shaky start.

With the relatively big investment in the summer, Köln would look to at least finish in midtable following their topsy-turvy ride in recent seasons. Their current home form could make that happen as they collected seven points from the first three games at RheinEnergie Stadion.

However, they returned home without a point from their trips to Stuttgart and Hamburg. Before back-to-back home games against Schalke and Union Berlin, they will fancy their chances to end that streak against a team that conceded half a dozen goals on matchday 5.

Team News

Strikers Ragnar Ache and Thijs Dallinga are unavailable, while Alessio Castro-Montes, who scored a late equalizer when these teams last met in April, will most likely return to the matchday squad after missing the derby with a muscle injury. 

Skhiri will not face his former club as he was subbed off at half-time against Gladbach due to an injury.

Head-to-Head 

11 goals were scored in the two games between the sides last term. Jonathan Burkardt's second-half brace helped Frankfurt to win 4-3 in Köln before they squandered a two-goal lead in the return fixture.

The last four head-to-head fixtures at Frankfurt ended in draws, although there are no goalless encounter between them since 2009.

Predicted Lineups

Click here to see our predicted starting lineups for Eintracht Frankfurt vs. 1. FC Köln.