Anniversary for Steffen Baumgart

It’s a good week for Steffen Baumgart. The coach of 1. FC Köln extended his contract with the Geißböcken during the week and will also celebrate an anniversary on Friday in his 100th Bundesliga game as a coach. At best, this day will be crowned with a home victory. Whether that will succeed, however, must be seen, because for the Effzeh it is no longer about anything and therefore we flirt in our Cologne against Hertha tip quite with a bet on a point win of the Berliners.

It’s not like the Rhinelanders have been in serious relegation trouble this season. The big goal, however, was to mathematically clinch a spot in the relegation zone, and 1. FC Köln managed to do that last week. Now Steffen Baumgart’s team can go into the last three games without any pressure and, above all, really enjoy the two home games. Next year, the Cologne team will play in the Bundesliga for the fifth time in a row. The last time this was achieved was before the first relegation in 1998.

There is no sign of enjoyment on the Spree. The Berliners are last in the table and that generally does not bode well in the Bundesliga’s relegation battle. In 59 years of the German top flight, only three teams that finished last with three rounds to go have managed to stay in the league. That means the mission to stay in the league is just over five percent likely to succeed for the old lady.

After all, only three points are missing to the relegation place. Pal Dardai will not think about more at the moment. What is clear, however, is that a draw at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion is the least the Berliners have to take with them this weekend. The motivation will not be lacking and therefore we go out on a limb and give a prediction of at least one point for the old lady in the duel Cologne against Hertha.

Cologne – statistics & current form

There could be something of a holiday in Cologne on Friday. After the derby victory last week, the fans of the Geißböcke are euphoric anyway. In addition, the celebration for the class preservation and with the Hertha an opponent who represents a solvable task. In addition, it is just this special game for the coach Steffen Baumgart. The conditions could hardly be better to finally end the misery in their own arena.

Weakness in own arena

The Cologne team has won three games in a row away from home, but at home there has been little going right in recent weeks. For five home games, the Effzeh has been waiting for a victory

If the Geißböcke win the game, however, they will probably lay the foundation in the first half, because after the change of ends, the Cologne team has scored the fewest goals in the entire Bundesliga with only 13. However, if they can get the game in the bag before halftime, then it will be enough, as it was the case last week.

The Geißböcke were guests in Leverkusen for the derby. Davie Selke was to emerge as the match winner in the course of the game. The attacker scored the opening goal for his team early on. After the Werkself had equalized in the meantime, it was Selke again who sealed the 2-1 final score, the important away victory and the Cologne team’s class preservation after just 36 minutes.

Last games of Cologne:

Bundesliga

• 06/05/2023 – Bayer Leverkusen 1 – 2 1. FC Cologne
• 29/04/2023  – 1. FC Cologne 0 – 1 SC Freiburg
• 22/04/2023 – Hoffenheim 1 – 3 1. FC Cologne
• 15/04/2023 – 1. FC Cologne 1 – 1 Mainz 05
• 08/04/2023 – Augsburg 1 – 3 1. FC Köln

Hertha – statistics & current form

Statistically, you should not necessarily bet on the Berliners staying in the class. However, they were also almost relegated last season and then still pulled the head out of the noose. Last year, Felix Magath was the celebrated savior; this year, club legend Pal Dardai is expected to pull the cart out of the mud in the final days of play.

Weakest away team in the Bundesliga

Four wins in the last four matchdays, that’s the coach’s simple calculation, will be needed to stay in the class. Therefore, one should not assume a waiting old lady on Friday in Cologne. However, away games are also the Berliners’ big problem. For twelve away games, the capital club has now waited for a victory away from home.

But if it can work, then perhaps this Friday at the recently weak Cologne home. Last week, the belief in staying in the relegation zone came back as they got the upper hand in the relegation duel at home against VfB Stuttgart and won one of four. Marc-Oliver Kempf put his team in the lead, and even the Swabians’ equalizer didn’t faze them. Florian Niederlechner scored the 2-1 winner for the Old Lady before the break.

This ended a run of eight winless games in a row. The next three games will show whether the change of coach from Sandro Schwarz to Pal Dardai came too late. In any case, the Berliners should not allow themselves a defeat in Cologne and in view of the mental high of the old lady, we can even imagine making a prediction on a victory for the visitors between Cologne and Hertha.

Last matches played by Hertha:

Bundesliga

• 06/05/2023 – Hertha BSC 2 – 1 VfB Stuttgart
• 30/04/2023 – Bayern Munich 2 – 0 Hertha BSC
• 22/04/2023 – Hertha BSC 2 – 4 Werder Bremen
• 15/04/2023 – Schalke 04 5 – 2 Hertha BSC
• 08/04/2023 – Hertha BSC 0 – 1 RB Leipzig

Cologne – Hertha Direct comparison / H2H balance

Hertha needs the next win in the relegation battle and Cologne could be the best possible opponent for that. Against no other club in the Bundesliga have the Berliners racked up more wins since the turn of the millennium. There have also been more away victories against no other opponent in this period. However, this record is only half the truth.

Cologne and Hertha have played a total of 75 matches, and in the direct comparison the Geißböcke are still ahead with 33:28 wins and 14 draws. However, the old lady has already won the first leg at the Olympiastadion. After goals from Wilfried Kanga and Marco Richter, Hertha BSC won 2-0 in November.

Cologne – Hertha tip

The very big question we have ahead of this clash is how intensely the Billy Goats can and will dig into this match. It’s usually the case that the air is out a bit after the season’s goal has been achieved. Steffen Baumgart will certainly sensitize his players in this direction, but whether it is still enough to 100 percent in terms of passion and attitude, remains to be seen.

The Berliners, on the other hand, will certainly put everything into this game and try to clutch at another last straw. However, the capitals have been waiting for a win for twelve away games in the Bundesliga. The Effzeh, however, have not won any of their last five home games.

But we also think it is conceivable that neither Cologne will turn off their home weakness nor that Hertha will defeat their away curse. At first glance, this looks like a draw. If we combine this impression with our previous assessment, the puzzle may come together successfully. We have therefore decided to play the betting odds between Cologne and Hertha on the double chance X2.