1st FC Cologne – FSV Mainz
After the DFB Cup matches during the week, the 14th matchday of the Bundesliga is coming up this weekend. There are some exciting games on the program, both in the title race and in the battle to avoid relegation. The matchday will be concluded by 1. FC Köln and Mainz 05 on Sunday evening. A real basement duel, as both teams are at the bottom of the table.
Cologne have shown in recent weeks that they are willing to take on the fight to stay up and have been able to pick up a few points with passion. A win against Mainz would be extremely important to consolidate the gap to the relegation places. Mainz have just one point less than FC and are breathing down the Billy Goats’ necks.
Despite their recent defeat against SC Freiburg, Mainz have also been able to pick up some points in recent weeks. However, if they fail to score in Cologne, they could end up in the red lantern of the league. Coach Jan Siewert and his team are determined to prevent that from happening. You can find out who will come out on top and who will come away empty-handed in our Cologne – Mainz betting tip
Cologne – Mainz info
- Date & Time: 10.12.2023, 17:30 hrs
- Venue: Rhein-Energie-Stadion, Cologne
- Competition: Bundesliga, matchday 14
- TV broadcast: DAZN
Cologne Form & Balance Check
Cologne have stabilized somewhat in recent weeks and have recently collected a few important points in the relegation battle. On the last matchday, coach Steffen Baumgart’s team secured an extremely important 1:0 away win against the Lilies from Darmstadt. As a result, the Billy Goats climbed out of the relegation places and are currently in 15th place.
However, this does not mean that the team can rest easy, as FC are only one point ahead of Mainz in 17th place. A win would therefore be all the more important to widen the gap on the competition. Their record from the last four competitive matches is one win, two draws and one defeat
Baumgart puts the pressure on
The FC coach is currently not happy with his club’s transfer policy. During the week, Baumgart made a clear statement about the current personnel situation and demanded that reinforcements join the team in the winter. According to the coach, there is no chance to develop players in the relegation battle and the team loses substance every year due to the departure of key players.
Last year, Cologne let eight regular players go, including the midfield duo of Salih Özcan and Ellyes Skhiri. Baumgart called for a rethink from the management in order to get the club back on the road to success in the long term
Cologne facts & analysis
- 15th place in the table
- Five points from the last four games
- Goal ratio of 10:24
Mainz Form & Balance Check
Mainz have slipped to second-last place in the table after last week’s 1:0 defeat in Freiburg. The basement duel against Cologne is of great importance, as a defeat could send Mainz plummeting deeper into the doldrums. Before the latest defeat, however, coach Siewert’s team performed well, drawing against Hoffenheim and Darmstadt respectively and recording a strong home win against RB Leipzig.
However, that was their only win of the season so far and FSV’s overall record is one win, five draws and seven defeats. Should Mainz win in Cologne, they would move past FC and climb a little higher up the table
No goal threat
One of Mainz’s biggest problems is the danger they pose when finishing goals. The club has only scored twelve goals in the entire season so far and only Cologne have scored even fewer. Even in the last three games, Mainz have only managed one measly goal in the 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim.
Especially at home, the 05ers hardly manage anything. In the home goal statistics, Mainz are the worst team in the league with just five goals. Away, on the other hand, things are going a little better, but against Cologne, coach Siewert will have to come up with something to crack the FC’s defensive line
Mainz facts & analysis
- 17th place in the table
- First win of the season
- Goal ratio of 12:26
Predicted line-up – last update on December 8, 2023
After the 1:0 away win in Darmstadt, there is no reason for FC coach Baumgart to make any changes. In the 4-5-1 system, we expect Davie Selke, who is currently performing strongly, to be the only striker. Dejan Ljubicic and Florian Kainz will form the center of midfield.
Mainz are still looking for penetration in their attacking play. We expect them to play in a 4-3-2-1 formation. Jonathan Burkhardt could finally be back in the starting line-up up front
Cologne – Mainz head-to-head & stats
Cologne and Mainz have faced each other 36 times in their club history. The overall balance is even, with both teams coming away victorious 13 times. Ten matches ended in a draw. However, Mainz have the better overall goal difference with 51:47. The very first meeting took place in 1962 in the DFB Cup and ended 5-0 in favor of Cologne. The last match was on matchday 28 of the previous season and ended 1-1.
- Evenly matched direct comparison
- The last match ended in a draw
- Both Cologne and Mainz recorded a 5-0 win over the other
