Clash between top 2 teams in Germany's second division
TEAM NEWS
Hannes Wolf’s Hamburg are at full strength, with only the long-term injured Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio and Kyriakos Papadopoulos continuing to be absent. David Bates saw two yellow cards against Magdeburg and is suspended for this important home league match against the leaders.
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 for this league game against Hamburg.
Hamburg
Suspended: David Bates
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio (all knee)
Cologne
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injure d/unavailable: Nikolas Nartey (foot), Christian Clemens (ligament rupture), Vincent Koziello (shoulder), Lasse Sobiech (broken toe)
MATCH PREVIEW
MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW
Hamburg began a new era with Hannes Wolf at the helm last week. This is the second league match for the new coach and a tricky home league game against leaders Cologne. The new man in the dugout started his tenure with a 1-0 win away from home against Magdeburg last time out. With an immediate return to Germany's top flight the objective this season, Wolf will find himself under pressure quickly and will have to follow that win up with another positive result.
Cologne fell to a somewhat shock 1-1 home draw with Heidenheim last weekend. That draw at the Rhein Energie Stadium was Cologne’s third league matches without a win, having drawn two and lost one. Meanwhile, Markus Anfang’s boys have picked up just eight points from the last 15 on offer. Cologne are still leading the table, but they are level on points with Hamburg after 11 league games.
With both sides registering six wins, three draws and two losses so far, this could be an even matchup at Volkspark Stadium. Hamburg have an even home record with two wins, two draws and two defeats, and I can see the hosts being held to another draw here.
SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW
Hamburg have scored just six home goals in the league while Cologne's last two league contests have featured two total goals each. I don’t expect a high-scoring league encounter here either.
HEAD TO HEAD
Both teams plied their trade in the top flight last season. Cologne beat Hamburg 2-0 away in January, but lost 3-1 at home in August 2017.
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