1.FC Köln - SC Paderborn

Cologne to go clear at the top with another win

TEAM NEWS

Cologne are at full strength.

Steffen Baumgart has a fully fit Paderborn team to choose from. The only unavailable player is Massih Wassey with a back injury.

Cologne

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

Paderborn

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Massih Wassey (back)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Table toppers Cologne picked up another impressive victory in their last league game two weeks ago, with Christian Clemens, Salih Ozcan, Sehrou Guirassy (one goal each) and Simon Terodde (two) on the scoresheet in an impressive 5-3 success at St. Pauli. Coach Markus Anfang has slotted into life at Cologne like a duck to water, guiding the Billy Goats to three wins and one draw in his first four league games in charge. The side are now sitting at the top of the table, one point ahead of Darmstadt, and have the joint-best goal difference of +6.

Steffen Baumgart’s Paderborn have had a mixed bag of results. After four league matches, they have won one, drawn two and lost one. However, they are unbeaten in their last three league fixtures, having followed up their 2-0 home win over Jahn Regensburg in round two with 2-2 draws away at Greuther Furth and at home against Bochum. The fact that they have scored twice in each of those three league games shows that they are no pushovers, but they might struggle to repeat this goal count against the current leaders.

Cologne have been enjoying a fantastic start to the new campaign and I think they can make it three wins on the bounce on Sunday.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH

Both teams have scored a fair amount of goals of late, with Cologne netting a league-high 11 in their four league matches and Paderborn registering six goals in each of their last three league games. These figures prove that both sides are capable in attack and we should be treated to a high-scoring affair here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Cologne and Paderborn last met in 2014-15 when they were still playing in the top flight. Both those league encounters were scoreless.