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1st FC Köln vs. TSG Hoffenheim
As the 25th matchday in the Bundesliga draws to a close, Cologne and Hoffenheim meet on Sunday as two teams that are playing a really strong season so far. Both finished last season in the bottom half of the table and are now clearly on course for Europe. Hoffenheim are in 6th place in the table with 40 points and are level on points with fourth-placed Leipzig.
Cologne had to let a little slip away after they could “only” get two wins from the last six games. Nevertheless, the starting position is not hopeless and the gap to TSG from Hoffenheim is four points. In recent years, however, the Effzeh have not been able to win much against Sebastian Hoeneß’s team, and in the first leg they went down 0:5. Whether we believe that things will go better for Cologne on Sunday than in the first leg, you can find out in this Cologne – Hoffenheim tip.
Cologne – Hoffenheim info:
– Date & Time: 06.03.2022, 17:30 Uhr
– Venue: Rhein-Energie-Stadion (Cologne)
– Competition: Bundesliga, 25th matchday
– TV broadcast: In Livestream at DAZN
Cologne Form & Balance Check
With ten matchdays to go, Cologne are in 8th place in the table and have not had anything to do with relegation at any point this season. This is mainly due to the new playing philosophy and the charisma of the new coach, whom the players follow unconditionally. In every game, the Effzeh players give everything to get the three points. The recipe for success this season is based on enormous home strength, as Cologne have picked up two-thirds of their points in their own stadium so far.
Much reminiscent of the 2017 season
The last time the Cologne side played consistently convincingly was now just under 5 years ago. In the 2016/17 season, they reached the Europa League after a great season and thus participated in an international competition for the first time in several years. Back then, a certain Anthony Modeste was also the absolute top scorer for Cologne and scored in almost every game. This season, the Frenchman is having another really strong season and is Cologne’s life insurance, even though he has been out of the picture for the last two years.
Cologne facts & analysis
– Cologne have won their last two home games to nil.
– Last match ended with a 1-1 draw at Fürth
– In the second half of the season so far they have picked up 11 points from 7 games
Hoffenheim form & balance check
So far, it’s been TSG’s season from Hoffenheim. Things are going really well for Sebastian Hoeneß’ team and they already have 40 points on their account. Hoffenheim have an excellent starting position in the fight for Europe and have recently had a very rising form curve again, after the team had an interlude with four defeats in a row. However, the three wins in the last three games have pushed them up to 6th place and from now on they have to do their own homework. Then it will also work out with the European competition.
In the defence improvisation is required
But it is above all the personnel situation ahead of Sunday’s match that is causing coach Sebastian Hoeneß headaches. After Rudy, Vogt, Geiger and Nordtveit had recently called off with injuries, captain Benjamin Hübers is now also out. Accordingly, the coach will have to think about what the defensive constellation should look like on Sunday. It is possible that Akpogouma will return to the three-man backline and Grillitsch will act as a central centre-back. Posch would be an option as a third link. There are residual hopes for a place in the squad at least with Vogt and Geiger, whose injuries have not turned out to be so serious after all. For the starting eleven, however, it is still too early and too risky.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
– They are in 5th place in the second round table.
– Hoffenheim won the last match with 2:1 against Stuttgart
– Hoffenheim have conceded one goal in 10 of their last 12 matches
Predicted line-up – last update on 4 March 2022
Steffen Baumgart actually has no performance-related reason to change anything. However, Timo Hübers, who is ill, will be absent. Chabot is available as a replacement and could make his starting debut. The recently strong Ljubicic is also a candidate for the starting eleven in midfield. As mentioned above, the TSG coach will have to improvise in defence and re-staff the three-man backline. Offensively, Dabbur and Bruun Larsen are alternatives.
Cologne – Hoffenheim direct comparison & statistics
The TSG from Hoffenheim have been Cologne’s fearful opponents in recent years and have not lost to the Effzeh for eleven games. Cologne’s last victory dates back to 2015, when the Geißböcke won 3:2.
– Hoffenheim have won a total of 11 games against Cologne and the Effzeh have only won 4 against TSG.
– The last 3 away games in Cologne went to Hoffenheim.
– In the first leg Hoffenheim won with 5:0
