FC Koln, currently facing the threat of relegation, trail VfL Bochum by two positions in the Bundesliga standings as they prepare to face each other in the upcoming gameweek 28 fixture at RheinEnergieStadion on Saturday.
With a seven-point difference between the two teams ahead of this weekend’s encounter, the significance of securing a home victory cannot be overstated for FC Koln, who are eager to draw their opponents into the relegation battle.
Match preview
Cologne, despite remaining winless in seven consecutive league matches, faces a critical imperative in securing a victory against Bochum to enhance their prospects in the battle for retention in the top-flight competition.
The team colloquially referred to as the “Billy Goats” currently sits one point behind Mainz, who occupies the relegation playoff position, with a precarious standing further exacerbated by the threatening point differentials held by Bochum and Wolfsburg. The latter two teams possess 26 and 28 points, respectively, putting them potentially out of reach for Cologne in the remaining weeks of the season.
The managerial transition from Steffen Baumgart to Timo Schultz has yet to yield significant results, with Schultz’s sole victory occurring in a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at the outset of February. This victory underscores the desperate situation faced by the second-bottom club.
Contrary to their 11th-place finish in the previous season, Cologne now finds themselves engaged in a fight for survival, having secured only three victories thus far. Whether the club can muster the necessary wins to secure retention remains uncertain as the season progresses.
Cologne’s current tally of three wins after 27 matches represents their lowest performance at this stage in any Bundesliga season. Furthermore, historical data suggests that no team has successfully avoided relegation from such a position, further dimming Cologne’s prospects for survival.
Bochum, set to visit the RheinEnergieStadion on Saturday, aims to avoid defeat against Cologne to maintain their seven-point lead over their hosts in the relegation battle. Despite possessing a buffer that permits them to lose two matches while still remaining outside the bottom two positions, Bochum’s position remains precarious as the campaign approaches its conclusion.
Although Cologne has struggled to find form, Bochum’s results have also been lackluster since January, leading to a decline in their standings and an ongoing struggle to stave off relegation. Despite notable victories against Stuttgart (1-0) and Bayern Munich (3-2) in recent months, Bochum’s overall performance has been marred by a four-match losing streak.
With only one victory in 13 away matches this season, which represents the league’s joint-worst away record (seven points), Bochum’s traveling supporters may understandably brace themselves for another disappointing outcome in Cologne.
Team News
The upcoming Saturday’s game will see the hosts facing several absences, with Justin Diehl (muscular), Luca Kilian (knee), and Mark Uth (knee) unavailable for selection.
Noteworthy contributions to Koln’s goal tally have been made by Davie Selke (six) and Faride Alidou (four), accounting for a substantial portion of the team’s 21 goals. This underscores the significance of both players in shaping the outcome of Saturday’s match for the Billy Goats.
Bochum, on the other hand, is expected to be without Michael Esser (knee), Niclas Thiede (broken finger), and Mohammed Tolba (knee) due to various injury concerns.
Takuma Asano and Kevin Stoger have been prolific scorers for Bochum, registering six and five goals respectively. Notably, Stoger has been effective from penalty situations, scoring four times from the spot. His presence in midfield will be crucial should Bochum be awarded another penalty kick during the match.
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Schwabe; Thielmann, Hubers, Chabot, Finkgrafe; Alidou, Martel, Ljubicic, Kainz; Selke, Adamyan
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Riemann; Passlack, Ordets, Schlotterbeck, Bernardo; Losilla, Osterhage, Stoger; Asano, Hofmann, Antwi-Adjei