Seven points after five matchdays, and yet Hoffenheim and Cologne are separated by three places in the table in the still young Bundesliga season. The Kraichgauers welcome the promoted team from Cologne to the PreZero Arena on Friday evening, with both teams going into this match with completely different prospects. While Hoffenheim at least took a point from the 1-1 draw in Freiburg, Cologne is still digesting the bitter 1-2 home defeat against Stuttgart, when they let the victory slip away after Kaminski’s early lead. Despite the teams being level on points, the bookmakers see the hosts as clear favorites, which raises questions given the recent form of both teams. The last meeting in February ended in a high-scoring 1-1 draw, and in the last five encounters, there have been goals at both ends on a regular basis. Despite two consecutive defeats, Cologne coach Kwasniok is in combative mood and talks of “room for improvement” in his heavily revamped squad, while Hoffenheim continues to be without key players such as Hlozek, but has a prolific striker in Asllani.
- Venue: PreZero Arena, Sinsheim
- Date and time: October 3, 2025, 8:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 6)
Hoffenheim form & record check
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim has proven to be a team of extremes this season. With seven points from five games, Christian Ilzer’s team is in 10th place in the table, level on points with FC St. Pauli above them and Union Berlin below them. The Kraichgauers have scored in each of their Bundesliga games so far, but have also conceded goals on a regular basis. The recent 1-1 draw in Freiburg was symptomatic of Hoffenheim’s current form: after falling behind early to Kübler, Asllani promptly responded with the equalizer, assisted by Coufal’s sharp pass. Once again, the team’s defensive vulnerability, which was already evident in the defeats against Bayern Munich (1-4) and Frankfurt (1-3), was on display. It is noteworthy that all five league games ended with more than 1.5 goals, with at least three goals scored in four of the five games. Personnel concerns remain a constant issue for Ilzer, with key players Hlozek (scaphoid fracture), Machida (cruciate ligament rupture), and Gendrey (ankle fracture) all missing. Hajdari was recently sidelined due to illness. The form of the last five games, with two wins, one draw, and two defeats, reflects a team that can certainly compete but still needs to work on the necessary consistency.
After the 1-1 draw against Freiburg, coach Christian Ilzer is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation. Baumann will be between the posts, with a back four of Coufal, Hranac, Arthur Chaves, and Bernardo in front of him. Avdullahu and Burger are expected to form the defensive midfield duo, with Prass, Kramaric, and Touré making up the attacking trio behind them, while Asllani could occupy the center forward position. Key players such as Hlozek and Hajdari are still out with injuries. After the recent draw, minor adjustments are possible, with players such as Tohumcu or Prömel available as alternatives in defensive midfield should the coach want to add a little more stability or creativity.
Cologne form & record check
The last five games of 1. FC Köln reflect a team that is still searching for consistency. After a promising start with wins in Mainz (1-0) and against Freiburg (4-1), FC Köln has recently suffered two painful defeats. While the 3-1 defeat in Leipzig was entirely to be expected, the 2-1 loss to Stuttgart at home was particularly painful. Cologne put in an impressive performance against VfB for long periods, with Kaminski giving his team an early lead and Ache narrowly missing out on making it 2-0 with a lob. However, the Billy Goats’ weakness in set pieces proved to be their undoing when a penalty after a controversial foul by Schwäbe on Demirovic turned the tide. Despite the setbacks, coach Kwasniok remains combative and talks of “room for improvement.” His announcement that he wants to earn more than the seven points achieved so far in the next five games sounds ambitious. The major squad overhaul with twelve new signings takes time, which is also evident in the fact that Kwasniok has not yet found a fixed starting lineup. Personnel worries are plaguing the team ahead of the Hoffenheim game: Bülter is once again threatening to miss out due to Achilles tendon irritation, having already missed the Stuttgart game. With van den Berg and Kilian, two defensive players are also out with long-term injuries. On a positive note, all five league games so far have been high-scoring, with Cologne scoring in every game.
Coach Lukas Kwasniok is likely to field a 3-5-2 formation against Hoffenheim, which he has used frequently recently. With Schwäbe in goal, a back three of Schmied, Hübers, and Martel could stabilize the defense. Sebulonsen and Kaminski are planned for the wings, while Jóhannesson and Krauß are expected to liven up the central midfield. Things will be interesting in attack: Marius Bülter is still likely to be out with Achilles tendon irritation after already missing the Stuttgart game. Ragnar Ache, who recently made his first start and impressed against Stuttgart, is therefore likely to start again, with Thielmann at his side to complete the attack. Kwasniok says he is still looking for the perfect balance over 90 minutes and is “still searching a little.” The bench offers alternatives for tactical adjustments during the game with players such as Kainz, Waldschmidt, and Castro-Montes.
H2H Hoffenheim – Cologne Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The head-to-head matches between Hoffenheim and Cologne show an interesting pattern. In the last five encounters since 2022, Hoffenheim has won twice, while Cologne has only managed one victory, with two games ending in a draw. The last meeting in February 2024 ended 1-1 at the PreZero Arena. It is noteworthy that Hoffenheim has scored in all five direct duels, a streak that has lasted for over three years, while Cologne has conceded at least one goal in each of these encounters. The halves were mostly evenly matched, with four of the five games tied at halftime, indicating a tactical first 45 minutes. The decisions were often made in the second half, with Hoffenheim usually coming out on top. Cologne have been waiting for a win against Hoffenheim since their 3-1 victory in April 2023, when they came from behind to overturn an early Hoffenheim lead. Since then, they have failed to win any of their two games against TSG.
Hoffenheim has exceeded the 2.5-goal mark in all five league games, while Cologne has also scored heavily in four of five encounters. This record is reinforced by personnel shortages in both defensive lines: TSG will be without Machida and the injured Hajdari, while the Billy Goats will travel without their center backs Kilian and van den Berg. With odds of 1.9 for a Hoffenheim win, the market suggests they are clear favorites, but the offensive strength of both sides suggests a more balanced contest. Asllani has scored in three of Hoffenheim’s last four games, Kaminski leads Cologne’s attack with two goals, and both coaches favor proactive playing systems. The first half in particular promises to be explosive, with Cologne scoring early in four of their last five games and Hoffenheim conceding three times in the first 15 minutes. With Kwasniok announcing that his team will step up their game in the coming weeks and Hoffenheim’s ambitions after their disappointing draw in Freiburg, everything points to an open, high-scoring game.
