Geißböcke without head coach
On Saturday, 1. FC Köln and SC Freiburg will face each other in the Bundesliga. Last season, this duel was a match between a relegation candidate and a club from the midfield. Meanwhile, an ambitious midfield team, namely Cologne, plays against a team from Freiburg that wants to play internationally in the coming season.
This makes Cologne and Freiburg the two teams that have improved the most compared to last year. The Geißböcke are currently ranked eighth. After 20 games, they have 29 points. They are only two points away from the European Cup. A return to the international stage would be the icing on the cake of a successful season so far.
The Breisgau team is in an even better position. Christian Streich’s team is ranked fifth. Nobody at Sportclub will admit it openly, but with a one-point gap to third place, they can dream of the Champions League. If you want to go out on a limb, you can make a prediction before the match between Cologne and Freiburg that both teams will enter the European Cup.
In our opinion, however, Sportclub have the better cards. That’s why we’re leaning towards an away win between Cologne and Freiburg. It should be possible that goals will be scored with the head, as both clubs are ranked first and second in the Bundesliga for goals scored with the head.
Cologne – statistics & current form
During the week came the bad news that one would have preferred not to get in the cathedral city. Coach Steffen Baumgart has been infected and will not be able to coach his team on Saturday. The coach’s absence is much more serious than if any of the players were unavailable. It is possible that the coach’s influence will be decisively absent on Saturday
Torgetful Modeste
However, the style of play will not change. Cologne usually come through the wings and Anthony Modeste benefits from that with his header strength. It might make sense to check the odds on a goal from the Cologne attacker in the duel between Cologne and Freiburg, as the Frenchman has scored a total of five times in the last five Bundesliga matches.
In total, the Rhinelanders have been waiting for a win for three games. After the defeat against Bayern and the cup exit against HSV, they managed a 2-2 draw with VfL Bochum before the international break. After falling behind, Timo Hübers and Anthony Modeste even gave the Geißböcke a 2-1 lead. In the end, however, the points were shared.
We have already mentioned Steffen Baumgart’s absence. Co-coach Andre Pawlak will be in charge on the sidelines. Apart from that, things are looking very good in terms of personnel. If no player is infected before kick-off, Cologne should be able to field the best possible line-up on Saturday. Steffen Baumgart will probably continue to lead the starting eleven. Whether Ellyes Skhiri will be enough for the first formation after his return from the Africa Cup remains to be seen.
Predicted line-up of Cologne:
Schwäbe – Hector, Hübers, Kilian, Schmitz – Özcan – Ljubicic, Kainz, Schaub – Modeste, Duda – Coach: Pawlak
Last matches played by Köln:
Club friendlies
01/27 2022 – 1. FC Köln 2 – 2 Schalke 04
1st Bundesliga
01/22 2022 – Vfl Bochum 2 – 2 1. FC Köln
DFB Cup
01/18 2022 – 1. FC Köln (3)1 – 1(4) Hamburger SV
1st Bundesliga
01/15 2022 – 1. FC Köln 0 – 4 Bayern München
01/09 2022 – Hertha Berlin 1 – 3 1. FC Köln
Freiburg – Statistics & current form
It will be a special game for Freiburg’s captain Christian Günter. If nothing else comes up, the international will make his 100th Bundesliga game in a row in the starting eleven on Saturday. No other player in the Bundesliga has such a long series. Especially in times of the pandemic, one can only take one’s hat off to that.
Sportclub back on track
Freiburg had problems at the beginning of the calendar year when keeper Mark Flekken and defender Nico Schlotterbeck were in quarantine. In the meantime, both have returned and with them stability. Now the Freiburg side have already won two in a row and that’s why we are leaning towards a prediction of a guest victory in the Cologne vs. Freiburg match.
The Breisgauer also have the goal of winning the club cup after the great 4:1 victory in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup in Hoffenheim. Before the internationals, there was then the second derby win in a row when they beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0 at home. The Swabians initially assisted with an own goal before Kevin Schade forced the decision with the 2:0.
Hopes are high that they will be able to field their desired team in Cologne as well. At the moment, it looks as if Freiburg have used the days off to get all their players ready for action.
Predicted line-up of Freiburg:
Flekken – Günter, N. Schlotterbeck, Lienhart, Kübler – Höfler, Eggestein, Grifo, Schade – Höler, Demirovic – Coach: Streich
Last matches played by Freiburg:
1st Bundesliga
01/22 2022 – SC Freiburg 2 – 0 VfB Stuttgart
DFB Cup
01/19 2022 – Hoffenheim 1 – 4 SC Freiburg
1st Bundesliga
01/14 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 5 – 1 SC Freiburg
01/08 2022 – SC Freiburg 2 – 2 Arminia Bielefeld
12/19 2021 – SC Freiburg 2 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
Cologne – Freiburg Direct comparison / H2H balance
To date, the teams of 1. FC Köln and SC Freiburg have faced each other in a total of 41 matches. In the direct comparison, the Breisgauers have fared slightly better and are 19:14 ahead after victories. Only eight times did they part with a division of points. It is exciting that Christian Streich has won eight of his twelve Bundesliga games against the Effzeh.
Added to this is a success in the DFB Cup. The Freiburg coach has not celebrated more victories against any other opponent as a professional coach. However, the first leg in the current season ended in a draw. Anthony Modeste gave the Geißböcke the lead, but a late own goal by Rafael Czichos secured a point for Sportclub.
Cologne – Freiburg Tip
Cologne are favourites against Freiburg on Saturday. However, they have recently played three games in a row without a win. In addition, the Effzeh are missing coach Steffen Baumgart, probably the most important person to play successfully. Although there are no other personnel absences, the coach seems to be the man who is least replaceable.
Freiburg, on the other hand, have stabilised again after the return of Nico Schlotterbeck and Mark Flekken and celebrated two victories before the international break, including at the extremely strong Hoffenheimers at home. That’s why we’re more likely to bet on a win for the visitors in the duel between Cologne and Freiburg.
However, the prices also show that a bet on the Sportclub is somewhat risky. Therefore, we should hedge the bet. DNB would be a variant. We assume that the guests from Breisgau will at least not lose and therefore we play the betting odds on the double chance X2 in the match Cologne vs Freiburg.
