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1. FC Köln – VfL Wolfsburg
The 22nd matchday in the Bundesliga is in the starting blocks and this round again holds very exciting games. On Saturday at 15:30 we can look forward to five games. One of them is between 1. FC Köln and the Wolves from Lower Saxony. Both teams left the last matchday with a defeat. Find out who will get back on track on Saturday in our Cologne – Wolfsburg tip.
Before the start of the 22nd matchday, we take a closer look at the Bundesliga table. The two clubs are likely to look quite different from each other. Cologne are currently in 12th place with 26 points. Coach Steffen Baumgart’s team was beaten 3-0 in Stuttgart on the last matchday – the first defeat in 2023. The opponents from Wolfsburg also lost 3-0, but to the Red Bulls from Leipzig. Thus, VfL has been waiting for a win for four games. With 30 points, it is currently only good enough for seventh place.
Cologne – Wolfsburg Info:
– Date & Time: 25.02.2023, 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: RheinEnergieSTADION, Cologne
– Competition: Bundesliga, 22nd matchday
– TV broadcast: Sky
Cologne Form & Balance Check
Cologne FC suffered their first defeat of 2023 on the last matchday. The team of coach Steffen Baumgart showed one of the weakest performances of the season so far in Stuttgart. Particularly their own defence looked wild at times. Nevertheless, the men from the Rhine will not bury their heads in the sand, because a home game awaits them next Saturday.
Most recently, they beat Eintracht Frankfurt in front of their own fans. So far in 2023, the FC have played three times at home in the RheinEnergieSTADION and have scored seven points. Cologne won the first leg 4:2 and it was the only away win for Cologne to date.
Skhiri in top form
The Cathedral City side will currently be happy to have a player like Ellyes Skhiri in their ranks. The Tunisian has been one of the league’s defining players this year. Skhiri not only covers the most kilometres, but is also extremely accurate in front of goal.
Together with Frankfurt’s Kolo Muani, he has five goals in 2023 and that as a defensive midfielder. FC fans should still enjoy Skhiri while they can. The Tunisian’s contract expires in the summer and the top clubs have already put themselves in position. It is currently considered impossible that he will extend his contract on the Rhine.
Cologne facts & analysis
– Last lost 0:3 in Stuttgart
– 7 points from the last 3 home games
– Currently on 26 points
Wolfsburg form & balance check
Is the Wolves’ good phase over again? The Wolves have not won a game in four and the international places are now eight points away. Last weekend, the Lower Saxons were beaten 3-0 by RB Leipzig. At the moment, it is mainly the attack that is lacking.
The VfL has not scored a goal in two games. In comparison, the Wolves always scored at least one goal in the previous twelve games. A total of 33 goals were scored in this period. Another away game awaits them in Cologne on Saturday. So far, the record of 15 points looks quite solid. Most recently, however, there was only a 0-0 draw with Schalke.
Weakest start to the second half of the season in years
The Wolves’ season can easily be compared to a rollercoaster ride. At the end of the first half of the season, things were going like clockwork, but at the moment, very little is going right for VfL. With just one point in the second half of the season, only Hoffenheim are worse in this table. Wolfsburg also had their weakest start to the second half of the season since 2009/10. With regard to the upcoming match against FC, hopes rest on striker Nmecha. The attacker scored as many goals against no other club in the league as he did against Cologne (4).
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
– Without a win for 4 games.
– First leg lost 2:4
– Only 1 point in the second leg
Predicted line-up – last update on 23 February 2023
The hosts from Cologne want to go into Saturday’s match in a 4-1-3-2 that is quite attacking after all. Coach Steffen Baumgart will be looking for an offensive approach, so it is to be expected that Cologne will press early. Maina and Tigges, two players who are capable of scoring goals, will play up front. Schwäbe will also be between the posts again. The Wolves, on the other hand, are likely to make only one change. Lacroix will replace Bornauw in central defence alongside Van de Ven. Otherwise, coach Niko Kovac will be relying on the same team that has failed to win four times in a row.
Cologne – Wolfsburg direct comparison & statistics
Both teams have faced each other in 36 matches so far and the Wolves have won 16 of them. In addition, there are ten draws and ten wins for the FC.
– Both teams have lost their last match.
– The winner of the last encounter was 1. FC Köln
– VfL Wolfsburg have not won for 5 matches
– The most common result between 1. FC Köln and VfL Wolfsburg is 1-1. 6 matches have ended like this
