Full stadium in the Rhineland derby
It was 11 March 2020, and the first ghost match due to the pandemic went ahead in the Bundesliga. It was the match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln. This weekend, the Rhineland derby is on the agenda again, this time in the cathedral city, and it will probably be the last match between these clubs with spectators. On Saturday, the encounter will still take place in front of sold-out crowds.
In the Bundesliga standings, Borussia has now moved past the Effzeh. The Gladbachers are ranked ninth and have 18 points to their name. After a good start to the season, the Geißböcke have slackened off somewhat and are in twelfth place with 15 points. Especially in a derby, however, the standings always fade completely into the background.
There is a lot of explosiveness in the Rhineland derby. The rivalry between the fan camps is enormous. It is all the more astonishing that in the Bundesliga there have only been four sending-offs in the duels between these two clubs – all of them for the Cologne team. That’s why we’re holding back on predicting a rough game in the duel between Cologne and Gladbach.
There could well be a few goals for it. After all, after Bayern, Köln and Gladbach have fired the most shots on goal this season.
Cologne – Statistics & current form
Steffen Baumgart has been in charge as coach of Cologne for less than half a year. His signature is recognisable, but it will still take a little while before the development of this team bears noticeable fruit. At the moment, the Geißböcke have to watch out that they don’t get dragged through to the relegation battle of the Bundesliga.
Lost the ability to win
The Effzeh has gone five games without a win. However, that is only half the truth, as the Rhinelanders are still unbeaten at home this season with three wins and three draws. If it remains the case that both series hold, then it is a good idea to check the odds on a points split in the Cologne vs Gladbach match.
Last weekend there was already a derby on the agenda for Cologne, namely the foolish derby in Mainz. The 05ers took a 1-0 lead just before the break, but the Geißböcke have at least gained stability this season. Salih Özcan scored shortly after the break to make the final score 1-1.
In terms of personnel, things could not look much better for the Cologne team. Timo Horn is the only regular keeper missing due to injury. Marvin Schwäbe will replace him in the goal. Ellyes Skhiri is a candidate for the central midfield in order to provide the compact Foals with more physicality in this area. Ondrej Duda could have to make way for the Tunisian.
Predicted line-up of Cologne:
Schwäbe – Schmitz, Kilian, Czichos, Hector – Skhiri, Özcan, Kainz, Ljubicic – Modeste, Uth – Coach: Baumgart
Last matches played by Köln:
1st Bundesliga
11/21 2021 – Mainz 05 1 – 1 1. FC Köln
Friendlies
11/10 2021 – 1. FC Köln 4 – 0 Paderborn
1st Bundesliga
11/07 2021 – 1. FC Cologne 2 – 2 Union Berlin
10/30 2021 – Borussia Dortmund 2 – 0 1. FC Cologne
DFB Cup
10/27 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 0 – 2 1. FC Köln
Gladbach – Statistics & current form
The Foals also have a coach on the bench who is experiencing his first Rhineland derby. From there, the Gladbachers are also still in development, but this is progressing positively in recent weeks. The team from the Lower Rhine has climbed up the league table and with the quality in the squad, Borussia actually belongs in the top third of the Bundesliga.
Good run by the Foals
The yield that one actually imagines, they only got from the last seven games. However, they did manage 14 points and Adi Hütter’s team is now within touching distance of the international places again. This suggests that in the derby between Cologne and Gladbach, a prediction of a victory for the visitors is definitely permissible.
Last week, the Borussians put in an impressive performance, although this perhaps needs to be put into perspective somewhat, as Greuther Fürth came to Borussia-Park, an opponent who has yet to prove their Bundesliga fitness this season. As a result, Gladbach won 4-0 after goals from Jonas Hofmann (2), Florian Neuhaus and Alassane Plea.
The Foals will have to do without Jordan Beyer, Mamadou Doucoure, Breel Embolo and Tony Jantschke on Saturday. There will be a race against time for Nico Elvedi, Stefan Lainer and Christoph Kramer. The starting eleven should definitely come too soon for all three. However, given recent findings, a return to the squad could be imminent.
Predicted line-up of Gladbach:
Sommer – Ginter, Zakaria, Bensebaini – Herrmann, Kone, Neuhaus, Scally – Hofmann, Stindl – Plea – Coach: Hütter
Last matches played by Gladbach:
1st Bundesliga
11/20 2021 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 4 – 0 Greuther Fürth
11/05 2021 – Mainz 05 1 – 1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
10/31 2021 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 – 1 Vfl Bochum
DFB Cup
10/27 2021 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 5 – 0 Bayern Munich
1st Bundesliga
10/23 2021 – Hertha Berlin 1 – 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Cologne – Gladbach Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
In the Bundesliga alone, 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach have met in 92 duels. In total, however, this is the 125th meeting of the two Rhineland rivals in a competitive match. In the direct comparison, the Foals are ahead with 49:44 victories. 22 games ended in a draw. Gladbach have not won more often against any other team in the Bundesliga.
On the other hand, the Geißböcke have not conceded more defeats against any other club in the top flight. Last season, Gladbach won 3:1 in Cologne, and the billy goats took revenge in the return match at Borussia-Park with a 2:1 victory. Florian Neuhaus scored for the team from the Lower Rhine. Elvis Rexhbecaj was the match-winner for the Effzeh with a brace.
Cologne – Gladbach Tip
Finding the right tip in a derby, like Cologne against Gladbach, is not that easy. If we only go by form, then the Borussians are certainly favoured, as Adi Hütter’s team have picked up 14 points from their last seven games and have thus crept past their Rhineland rivals in the table.
The billy goats are without a win for five games, but on the other hand have not lost at home yet this season. It sounds like anything could happen in this duel. In any case, we expect a few goals, because after Bayern, Cologne and Gladbach give the most shots on goal in the Bundesliga.
We can imagine that Cologne’s series will last. That means that we don’t expect the Geißböcke to win, but also not to lose again in their own stadium. So there is only one logical conclusion and that’s why we are playing the betting odds on a points division in the Cologne vs Gladbach match.
