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1st FC Köln vs. Schalke 04
FC Schalke are back. Just one year after their relegation, the Königsblauen return to the Bundesliga as second division champions. At the end of the first matchday of the new season, they host 1. FC Köln. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieStadion is at 17:30.
However, we do not only predict a difficult season for the promoted team from Gelsenkirchen. Expectations are high for Cologne after last season. With the multiple burden of the Europa Conference League, the Geißböcken are unlikely to have a comparable season in the league. In the cup, they were eliminated in the first round by Regensburg last weekend.
Find out how we rate FC in the Bundesliga opener and what other predictions we have for this interesting match in our Cologne vs Schalke betting tips.
Cologne – Schalke info
– Date & Time: 07.08.2022, 17:30 Uhr
– Venue: Cologne, RheinEnergieStadion
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 1
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Cologne Form & Balance Check
This year, 1. FC Köln is also one of the Bundesliga clubs to have fallen victim to the first round of the DFB Cup. At SSV Jahn Regensburg, the current leaders of the 2nd Bundesliga, the Geißböcke were eliminated despite playing catch-up. They were already trailing 0:2 after 26 minutes, but still went into extra time thanks to goals from Mark Uth (28′) and Dejan Ljubicic (63′). In the penalty shoot-out, Julian Chabot and Kingsley Ehizibue missed for the Geißböcke and sealed Cologne’s first first-round exit in 15 years.
Will the multiple burden once again cost Cologne a place in the league?
What was already evident in the cup is likely to continue in the league. After the highs of last season, the deep fall is now on the horizon. Cologne have had a unique season, which they will not be able to repeat. They lost their best midfielder in Salih Özcan (Dortmund) in the summer. With the transfers of Sargis Adamyan (Hoffenheim), Steffen Tigges (Dortmund), Eric Martel (Leipzig) and Linton Maina (Hannover 96), they have strengthened themselves across the board, but not at the top.
In addition, Cologne are likely to pay tribute to the multiple burdens of the Conference League. The last time Cologne played internationally in the 2017/18 season, they were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga.
Cologne facts & analysis
– First round exit in the DFB Pokal in Regensburg (5:6 n.E.).
– finished 7th last season
– Anthony Modeste with 20 league goals best scorer
Schalke form & balance check
Unlike the Bundesliga teams from Cologne, Leverkusen and West Berlin (Hertha BSC), FC Schalke are standing tall in the second round of the DFB Cup. In the last 30 years, the Gelsenkirchen team has only been eliminated once in round one. At the beginning of this season, they won 5:0 against regional league team Bremer SV. Nevertheless, this year everything is different.
A new order
As a Bundesliga newcomer, the Königsblauen first have to re-sort themselves in the league. This season, however, at least Schalke is remaining realistic. No one here wants to hear anything about Europe for a while. The goal for the next two seasons is to stay in the league. This is also shown by the transfers, such as that of Sebastian Polter, and the signing of coach Frank Kramer. In the summer, those responsible put together a squad that is suitable for the Bundesliga and can keep in the class.
A total of seven newcomers were in the starting eleven against Bremer SV. However, it remains to be seen whether this team will also function in the Bundesliga straight away.
Schalke facts & analysis
– Second Division Champions 2021/22
– strongest away team of the past second division season
– strongest offensive of the past second league season (72 goals in 34 games)
Predicted line-up – last update on 5 August 2022
After the win in the DFB-Pokal, we expect FC Schalke to be unchanged against Cologne. Once again, a total of seven newcomers are likely to be in the starting eleven. Alexander Schwolow will be the goalkeeper. Maya Yoshida is the new head of defence in blue and white. Alex Kral and Tom Krauß form the midfield team on the double six. After promotion hero Simon Terodde had already missed the cup match, he could only train individually on Thursday with muscular problems. Against his former club, he will probably only be able to play as a substitute.
On the Cologne side, we expect only one newcomer to start in the league opener. In attack, Sargis Adamyan will start alongside 20-goal man Anthony Modeste. Compared to the cup, we expect Luca Kilian in the defensive centre for Julian Chabot and captain Jonas Hector for left-back Kristian Pedersen. In addition, Marvin Schwäbe seems to have made the running for the Cologne goal.
Cologne – Schalke direct comparison & statistics
The balance of the last games speaks a clear language. Cologne won three times in a row against S04. For the last Schalke victory in the Bundesliga, on the other hand, we have to go back to 2016. And the Geißböcke also dominate the overall record. Of a total of 104 encounters, they won 47 and lost only 34. 23 encounters did not find a winner.
– Cologne won each of the last 3 duels with Schalke.
– Schalke did not win any of the last 8 league matches against Cologne (4 draws & 4 defeats).
– Schalke scored only 2 goals in their last 4 duels
