Top-four hopefuls Borussia Dortmund travel to RheinEnergieStadion to take on relegation-threatened FC Koln in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since the opening weekend of the season back in August last year when Dortmund claimed a slender 1-0 victory at Westfalenstadion.
Match preview
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Koln missed the chance to climb out of the bottom two in the Bundesliga after they were held to 1-1 draw by Heidenheim in their first game of 2024 last weekend – dropping points from a winning position for the fifth time this season.
David Selke netted his fifth goal of the campaign to open the scoring just before the half-hour mark, but Heidenheim fought back and rescued a point courtesy of a second-half strike from substitute Adrian Beck.
Timo Schultz's side, who have won just one of their last nine league games since the end of October, were one of five teams in the bottom six who picked up a point in gameweek 17, and as a result remain 17th in the table, level on points with Mainz 05 in the relegation playoff position and three points adrift of Union Berlin in 15th spot.
Challenging times are ahead for Koln both on an off the pitch, as the club are forced to contend with two full seasons with a transfer embargo following a ruling upheld by the Court for Arbitration of Sport (CAS) last month. Schultz is therefore tasked to get the best out of the players at his disposal in their bid to avoid the drop.
Koln's form on home soil could be key to their survival considering that they have picked up six of their 11 points this season across their last five matches at RheinEnergieStadion; the Billy Goats have also lost just two of their last eight home meetings with Dortmund, which bodes well ahead of Saturday's clash.
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After ending 2023 with a six-game winless run in all competitions, the pressure was beginning to mount on Dortmund boss Edin Terzic heading into last weekend's must-win clash away against basement club SV Darmstadt 98.
However, a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Lilies has put BVB back into contention for a top-four finish. Julian Brandt opened the scoring midway through the first half, before Jadon Sancho marked his return on loan from Manchester United with an assist for Marco Reus on the 77-minute mark. Youssoufa Moukoko then added a third in stoppage time to help Dortmund claim their eighth league win of the campaign.
Although Dortmund sit fifth in the Bundesliga table and 15 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen at the halfway stage, their victory over Darmstadt has moved them to within three points of the top four as they capitalised on both fourth-placed RB Leipzig and third-placed Stuttgart losing in gameweek 17.
A favourable run of fixtures is on the horizon for Dortmund as their next eight Bundesliga matches are against teams currently outside the top six, although success on Saturday is not a given considering their recent struggles at RheinEnergieStadion.
Indeed, BVB have failed to win any of their last three visits to Koln, including a 3-2 loss last season, and only against Bayern Munich (nine) have they endured a longer winless away run against any current Bundesliga team.
Team News
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Koln striker Selke was forced off with a foot injury in the draw with Heidenheim and he will join Luca Waldschmidt (fractured fibula), Mark Uth and Dejan Ljubicic (both knee) in the treatment room.
Leart Paqarada is doubtful after missing the last three games with a muscle problem, so Max Finkgrafe could continue at left-back, joining Julian Chabot, Timo Hubers and Rasmus Carstensen in the back four.
The absence of Selke will likely see Steffen Tigges handed a start up front, with Jan Thielmann, Florian Kainz and Linton Maina all set to provide support in the final third.
As for Borussia Dortmund, Karim Adeyemi (ankle), Felix Nmecha (hip) and Julian Ryerson (knee) all remain sidelined with injuries, while Sebastien Haller and Ramy Bensebaini are away with Ivory Coast and Algeria respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nico Schlotterbeck will be assessed ahead of kickoff after picking up a shoulder injury in the closing stages of the win at Darmstadt, while Terzic has confirmed that Mats Hummels (infection) and Reus (illness) are also doubtful. The potential absences of Schlotterbeck and Hummels will likely see Niclas Sule deputise at centre-back alongside Emre Can.
Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen was handed his full debut last time out and is set to continue at left-back, while Sancho will be pushing for his first start since joining on loan from Man United, although Terzic may decide to stick with Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on the flanks.
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Schwabe; Carstensen, Hubers, Chabot, Finkgrafe; Huseinbasic, Martel; Thielmann, Kainz, Maina; Tigges
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Meunier, Sule, Can, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Ozcan, Brandt; Malen, Fullkrug, Bynoe-Gittens
We say: FC Koln 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Koln's recent home record against Dortmund bodes well for Saturday's contest, but BVB will still be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top.
Without the presence of injured duo Selke and Waldschmidt – who have scored seven of Koln's 11 Bundesliga goals this season – the hosts may struggle to pose a threat in the final third against a Dortmund outfit, who have a plethora of attacking options at their disposal.
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