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Hertha BSC vs. 1. FC Köln
The 18th matchday of the Bundesliga is in the starting blocks and for the ambitious capital club Hertha BSC the home match against 1. FC Köln is on the agenda for the second round kick-off on Sunday afternoon. Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m. in Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
Of the last four meetings between these two clubs, 1. FC Köln has not lost a match (2U, 2S). The last time the Effzeh had an even longer winning streak against the Berliners was in the 1970s. In our Hertha vs. Cologne betting tips, you can find out whether we think the visitors will win a point again in Sunday’s encounter and what other predictions we would make for this match.
Hertha -Cologne info
– Date & Time: 09.01.2022, at 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Berlin, Olympiastadion (without spectators)
– Competition: Bundesliga, 18th matchday
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Hertha -Köln Tip
The starting situation is quite different on both sides. While 1. FC Köln played a very satisfactory first half of the season and only lost four games, the Berliners disappointed all along the line, especially at the beginning of the season. After 17 matchdays, however, the teams are still separated by only four points in the table, as the Effzeh has rarely lost, but also relatively rarely won. The victories in Wolfsburg (2:3) and against VfB Stuttgart (1:0) on matchday 16 and 17 were only the fifth and sixth wins of the current season. The Berliners are also on six wins, having won two of their last three encounters of the Hinrunde.
Hertha Form & Balance Check
The Berliners have made a disastrous start to the new season with three defeats from their first three games and have only been able to attract positive attention extremely rarely in the weeks that followed. At first, it looked as if the Old Lady would have to fight to stay in the Bundesliga until the end of the season.
For some time now, however, things have been looking up, at least in terms of results. After five defeats from the first seven games, the capital club has only suffered three more defeats up to matchday 17. Of the last five games, Hertha have only lost the away game at Mainz 05 (4:0).
Berliners especially weak in the air
Tayfun Korkut’s eleven have actually won both of their last two Bundesliga home games. First with 2:0 against Arminia Bielefeld, then with 3:2 against Borussia Dortmund. The last time Hertha won three home games in a row was at the start of the 2018/19 season. If the Berliners want to score three again on Sunday, they will definitely have to get rid of their susceptibility to crosses.
In the first leg on Matchday 1, Cologne scored two of their three goals with a header from a cross. 16 matchdays later, Hertha BSC have allowed the most crosses in the league (307), the most headed goals (52) and the second most headed goals (9). Cologne, on the other hand, hit the most crosses from play (259), scored the most goals from crosses (12), had the most completions from headers (71) and scored the most headed goals (11).
Hertha facts & analysis
– 21 points from 17 games
– Last win 3:2 against Dortmund
– Won last two home games
– Winless in 4 games against Cologne
Cologne Form & Balance Check
The visitors from Cologne should be relatively happy with the way the season has gone so far. After the Geißböcke only managed to stay in the league in the 20/21 season in the relegation, eighth place and 25 points from 17 games in the first season under new coach Steffen Baumgart are a more than decent yield.
At least as important as the points tally, however, is the way in which the players of 1. FC Köln fight for the points week after week. The Rostock native has immediately managed to transfer his endless passion on the touchline to the team on the pitch.
Effzeh with 3rd win in a row?
This is also one of the reasons why Cologne are so hard to beat this season. Apart from Dortmund and Bayern, only Hoffenheim (5:0) and Augsburg (0:2) have managed to come away victorious against 1. FC Köln in the entire Hinrunde. At the end of the first half of the season, the Geißböcke really turned up the heat and only lost one of their last seven games. The last two games in Wolfsburg (2:3) and against Stuttgart (1:0) were both won. Now the Effzeher team could win three Bundesliga games in a row for the first time since February/March 2020.
Cologne Facts & Analysis
– 25 points from 17 games
– Last win 1:0 against Stuttgart
– None of the last 3 away games lost
– Only Bayern lost less often than Cologne
Predicted line-up – last update on 7 January 2022
For the Berliners, Santiago Ascacibar, Lucas Tousart and Ishak Belfodil (all Corona) are missing. Otherwise, only Rune Jarstein (knee surgery) is out. We expect the Alte Dame to play in a 4-4-2 with Selke and Maolida up front and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp at left wing.
For the Effzeh, the only question is who will play second striker next to Modeste. We expect Mark Uth, but Sebastian Andersson and Jan Thielmann are also options. In addition, it is not yet clear who will be in goal on Sunday. Timo Horn is back after recovering from a knee injury, but it may not be enough for him to play on matchday 18.
@Jordanynany has returned to his old strength!💪 In the interview, Torunarigha finds out why this could be a good omen for BSCKOE & we find out which details will be decisive for the game! Good deal? Then this way: https://t.co/kXQUpItK6j ⬅️TogetherHertha HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/nrrcmIAemx
– Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) January 5, 2022
Hertha – Cologne direct comparison & Statistics
The direct comparison is very narrowly in favour of 1. FC Köln with 32 to 27 wins and 14 draws. Between September 2015 and September 2019, however, the Alte Dame won six of eight duels. Since then, however, the Berliners have again waited for a win against the Effzeh. Two of the most recent four duels ended in draws, while the Geißböcke were able to win the other two encounters. Cologne won the first leg 3:1.
– Maximilian Mittelstadt has the most assists on goal for Hertha BSC with 3. For 1. FC Köln, Benno Erik Schmitz (4) is in front.
– The most common result between Hertha BSC and 1. FC Köln is 2-1 when Hertha BSC have had home advantage. 3 games ended like this.
– One year ago, 1. FC Köln was on position 16 in the table with 15 points. Currently they are on position 8 (25).
– The comparisons between the two clubs last season: 0-0 (home for Hertha BSC) and 0-0 (home for 1. FC Köln).
