RB Leipzig travel to Cologne in need of all three points

The Bundesliga’s draw specialists RB Leipzig travel to FC Koln as they chase the third Champions League spot.

Nobody eclipses Die Roten Bullen’s tally of ten in the ‘D’ column (including their last bout against Hertha Berlin), which is likely the reason why Julian Nagelsmann’s side has fell off in terms of the title race and face a battle to feature in the top three.

The hosts, Koln, battled against relegation in 2019 before hitting a marvellous streak in 2020, and currently find themselves in tenth position. The Billy Goats’ have drawn two of their last three themselves, losing out last time to an inspired performance from Christoph Schreuder’s TSG Hoffenheim.

They didn’t perform woefully at all, but were at mercy to a stunning performance from Austrian attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner.

Team news

Sebastiaan Bornauw was sent off against Hoffenheim and will be suspended for this one, while FC Koln will also be without the injured Marcel Risse.

Marcel Halstenberg is suspended for Leipzig, who may be without striker Yussuf Poulsen. Kevin Kampl, Ethan Ampadu and Ibrahima Konate – who are all doubtful.

Key Players

The Achilles heel in Koln’s Europa League push has been leaking unnecessary goals – thus the return of the rested fullback Jonas Hector is sure to be welcome. The Billy Goats have conceded seven in their previous three without Hector and Gisdol is almost guaranteed to recall the German international.

The Koln skipper has lined up at both left-back and defensive midfield this season and while he ranks second at the club for interceptions (41), he’s also third in terms of key passes (20), showing his attributes to be key at both ends of the field.

The key-man for RB Leipzig is unquestionably the universally coveted Timo Werner. But with his strike partner Poulsen out, the onus is on Patrick Schick to deliver the goods alongside the former Stuttgart man.

The Czech itnernational has somewhat surprsingly bagged eight Bundesliga goals this term despite being an irregular face on the field of play since his loan from AS Roma, where he became ‘I Giallarossi’s’ most expensive signing since ‘Batigol’ Gabriel Batistuta at the turn of the millennium.

Head-to-head

The previous fixture this season saw Nagelsmann’s men run out easy 4-1 winners in Leipzig, with Emil Forsberg bagging a brace alongside goals from Werner and Konrad Laimer.