FC Koln vs Schalke 04 - prediction, team news, lineups

Fighting to region themselves from the Bundesliga's relegation zone, promoted nine Schalke 04 volition question to look FC Koln astatine RheinEnergieStadion connected Saturday.

The Billy Goats are hoping to bounce backmost from decision past clip out, portion Die Knappen are hopeless to debar a 3rd consecutive defeat.

Match preview

Rene Wagner's Koln person produced a mixed commencement to the campaign, and a triumph this play would springiness their play a large boost, pushing them towards the European spots.

The Billy Goats kicked disconnected their Bundesliga calendar with a 3-2 triumph implicit Hoffenheim, but mislaid 2 of the pursuing 3 matches without coming connected apical once.

Wagner's broadside were capable to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 connected October 10, but erstwhile again failed to physique connected the success, falling to a 1-0 decision to Eintracht Frankfurt astir recently.

That inconsistent tally has near Koln 12th successful the league with 7 points to their name, a tally that puts them specified 2 supra the relegation zone.

However, securing each 3 points connected Saturday could determination the Billy Goats level with fifth-placed Mainz 05, a realistic anticipation considering the hosts are unbeaten at RheinEnergieStadion this term, winning doubly and drafting once.

Meanwhile, Miron Muslic's Schalke earned promotion to the apical formation by winning the second-division rubric past season, but person recovered the measurement up challenging.

Die Knappen presently beryllium 5th with 5 points and are lone supra the relegation portion connected extremity difference, a stark opposition to chap promoted nine Elversberg, who are sixth.

Last weekend, Muslic's men were beaten 1-0 by Mainz 05, failing to respond to Phillip Tietz's first-half opener successful a dire show that is possibly champion summed up by the information erstwhile Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius was the antheral of the match.

To marque matters worse, that decision saw Schalke's 13-month unbeaten streak at Veltins Arena broken, arsenic they failed to people for the 4th clip successful the league conscionable six games into the season.

That attacking strife has seen Die Knappen people lone 4 goals truthful far, the fewest of immoderate Bundesliga side, and it remains to beryllium seen whether they tin flooded that grounds connected the roadworthy against a squad that person played their champion shot astatine home.

FC Koln Bundesliga form:

Schalke 04 Bundesliga form:

Team News

Koln are without striker Thijs Dallinga arsenic helium recovers from a cruciate ligament injury, portion chap centre-forward Ragnar Ache is improbable to diagnostic arsenic helium works his mode backmost from a thigh problem, truthful expect to see Marius Bulter and Said El Mala commencement up top.

At the other extremity of the transportation centre-backs Timo Hubers and Rav van den Berg are retired owed to respective genu and musculus injuries, with versatile antiaircraft midfielder Ellyes Skhiri dealing with an ankle issue.

In their absence, Luka Lochoshvili and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey should commencement astatine the bosom of the hosts' defence, shielded by Tom Krauss successful the fig six role.

As for Schalke, they are missing striker Moussa Sylla with a limb wounded helium sustained against Freiburg, though manager Muslic is assured that Edin Dzeko volition beryllium acceptable to play.

Captain Kenan Karaman and Dejan Ljubicic are besides ruled retired arsenic they retrieve from genu and musculus issues, but Junior Adamu and Adil Aouchiche should beryllium connected manus to enactment the seasoned centre-forward up top.

Elsewhere, centre-back Maximilian Wober remains unavailable with a thigh injury, and the visitors could opt for a three-man backline featuring Timo Becker, Nikola Katic and Hasan Kurucay.

FC Koln imaginable starting lineup:

Schwabe; Sebulonsen, Simpson-Pusey, Locoshvili, Sosa; Krauss; Johannesson, Maina; Moore; Bulter, El Mala

Schalke 04 imaginable starting lineup:

Karius; Kurucay, Katic, Becker; Gantenbein, Tanaka, El-Faouzi, Gosens; Adamu, Aouchice; Dzeko

We say: FC Koln 2-0 Schalke 04

Koln person struggled for wins this season, but they person earned each of their points astatine location truthful far, and could find joyousness against the promoted broadside connected Saturday.

Schalke volition beryllium hopeless to debar different decision - a effect that could spot the nine autumn into the bottommost 3 - though their deficiency of cutting borderline up apical whitethorn beryllium damning erstwhile again.

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