1.FC Köln - Erzgebirge Aue

Cologne to make most of home advantage

TEAM NEWS

Cologne will be without the injured Marco Hoger, but he should again be available in the upcoming weeks.

Midfielder Steve Breitkreuz, 'keeper Robert Jendrusch and Florian Kruger are the only absentees for Daniel Meyer’s Aue.

Cologne

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marco Hoger (shoulder)

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Steve Breitkreuz (knee), Robert Jendrusch (meniscus), Florian Kruger (ribbon)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Having played two 2. Bundesliga games and picked up four points form a possible six, Cologne are currently part of a five-team strong chasing pack behind early leaders St. Pauli. After winning comfortably 2-0 away from home against Bochum in the opening round, they experienced a small setback with the 1-1 home draw against Union Berlin last time out. The club also ran over fourth-tier side BFC Dynamo in the cup at the weekend, winning 9-1. Markus Anfang’s men, who have been tipped as one of the favourites this season, already look capable of winning promotion. 

Daniel Meyer has found life tough at Aue so far as his side have mustered up just one point from two games. They fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin in the opener, conceding the winner right at the death. Aue then had to settle with a point in a 0-0 draw against newly-promoted Magdeburg on home soil two weeks ago. They were also kicked out of the cup by 1. Bundesliga team Mainz at the weekend despite playing with a numerical advantage for over 85 minutes. Aue are hoping to improve on their 16^thplace finish from last season, but the fact that they were the third worst team on the road last season won't inspire confidence.

Aue have been struggling to get going under new coach Meyer, and I fancy them to find it tough in this one, too. Back Cologne to claim all three points on home ground.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – COLOGNE 

Cologne should get off the mark early in this game as they have done in their last three meetings with Aue on home soil. I expect the same again as Cologne has the much better attack and should overcome Aue’s defensive line easily.

HEAD TO HEAD

Cologne are undefeated in their last three meetings with Aue at Rhein Energie Stadium, registering three straight wins. The most recent encounter in March 2014 ended in a 2-2 draw at Aue.