1.FC Köln - Dynamo Dresden

Comfortable home win for Cologne

TEAM NEWS

Cologne's Nikolas Nartey is sidelined with a foot injury while Christian Clemens has ruptured his ligaments and is out for the upcoming weeks. Vincent Koziello and Lasse Sobiech have suffered injuries during training and are not expected to recover in time either.

Dresden coach Maik Walpurgis has to find replacements for the injured Jannik Muller and Florian Ballas. Patrick Moschl is also out with an injury to his stomach muscles and the time of his return is unknown. 

Cologne

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nikolas Nartey (foot), Christian Clemens (ligament rupture), Vincent Koziello (shoulder), Lasse Sobiech (broken toe)

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Florian Ballas (shoulder), Jannik Muller (foot), Patrick Moschl (thigh)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Cologne were beaten 1-0 by new leaders Hamburg at the Volkspark Stadium last week, conceding the winning goal in the 86^thminute. The team had won four and drawn one of their previous five away league games and have now dropped down to third, with St. Pauli, who are now in second, also overtaking them following their win over Bielefeld last weekend. With an immediate return to the top flight their aim this season, Cologne will be looking to get back to winning ways straight away. Their form has been mixed at home with two wins, two draws and two losses.

Dresden beat strugglers Sandhausen 3-1 in round 12 to lift themselves into seventh. Since his arrival, new head coach Maik Walpurgis has won four, drawn three and lost two of his first nine league matches in charge and the side have become very hard to beat. Away from home, they have won two and drawn two of their last four league matches since falling to a 2-1 loss at Bielefeld in the second round. 

Dresden will certainly be no pushovers, but I just can't look past a win for the home side here. Cologne's defeat last week to Hamburg was nothing to be ashamed of, and with Dresden a weaker side than their opponents last week, the hosts should be able to clinch the three points here.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN

Five of Cologne's six wins have been secured through a two-goal margin. I’m backing a repeat of this here, so have a punt on even total goals to be scored at Rhein Energie Stadium.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two have not met in league action since 2013-14 when Cologne drew 1-1 away and won 3-1 at home. Overall, Cologne have won three, drawn two and lost one of their six league meetings with Dresden in Germany's second tier.