SV Sandhausen - 1.FC Köln

Cologne to get back on track on Friday

TEAM NEWS

Sandhausen’s Tim Knipping, Nejmeddin Daghfous and Ken Gipson are all out with different injuries. 

At Cologne, Nikolas Nartey is sidelined with a foot injury while Jonas Hector will miss this league game suspended after receiving two yellow cards against Paderborn last time out.

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Tim Knipping (broken foot), Nejmeddin Daghfous (calf), Ken Gipson (shoulder)

Cologne

Suspended: Jonas Hector

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nikolas Nartey (foot)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Kenan Kocak’s Sandhausen have made a slow start to the season. After five league matches, the side have drawn two and lost three to sit on a disappointing two points from a possible 15. However, Sandhausen are at least unbeaten in their last two league games in a row, with the latest league outing ending in a 1-1 draw against Darmstadt at Bollenfalltor. Nevertheless, they are the joint lowest scorers with two goals, sharing that unwelcome record with rock-bottom Duisburg.

Overall, Cologne have started off the new campaign well, winning 60% of their five league matches so far whilst drawing one and losing just one. However, after back-to-back wins over Aue and St. Pauli, Cologne crashed to an unexpected 5-3 home defeat against newly-promoted Paderborn in their last league outing, which saw them concede the final two goals in the 89^thand 94^thminute. The fact that Markus Anfang’s side have conceded eight of their ten goals in their last two league matches will without a doubt be a worry.

Cologne will be hoping to hit back following their defeat to Paderborn. Sandhausen may have improved slightly over the past two rounds but they remain winless after five league matches. Cologne should be a class above Sandhausen and I expect them to edge this one.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – COLOGNE

Sandhausen haven’t managed to open the scoring in their two home league games while Cologne have been first team on the scoresheet in four of their five league matches, including last weekend's defeat. Expect the visitors to net the first goal again.

HEAD TO HEAD

Sandhausen and Cologne last met in league action more than four years ago. Back then, during the 2013-14 season, the Billy Goats won both home and away without conceding.