Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Cologne: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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The Foals have pulled away from danger of late - they head into Matchday 30 11 points clear of the bottom three - and given themselves an outside chance of qualifying for European football. Captain Lars Stindl could make just his second start since his six-game injury lay-off after getting a 15-minute cameo in last weekend's 2-0 win over Greuther Fürth, while Jonas Hofmann could also return to the starting XI after coming off the bench late on Matchday 29 having sat out three games with a muscular injury. Tony Jantschke is available after illness, while Ramy Bensebaini and Luca Netz both trained with the squad on Tuesday after overcoming injuries, and could challenge Joe Scally for his place on the left. However, Marvin Friedrich is out while Marcus Thuram, who picked up a knock against Fürth, is a doubt. "We're all aware of just how much this game means to the fans," said coach Adi Hütter "We'll give everything at the weekend to continue our positive run. Cologne are on a good run too, which should make it a really good derby in front of a full house."

Cologne find themselves in eighth, just a point off the European places ahead of the match-up with their arch-rivals, whom they defeated 4-1 on Matchday 13. Jan Thielmann and Timo Hübers return after serving one-game suspensions in the 3-2 defeat of Mainz last time out, which ended the Billy Goats' two-game winless run. Sebastian Andersson could feature after sitting out the Matchday 29 win due to illness. "For a lot of people, the derby against Gladbach is special. But that's also true for Gladbach," said Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart, who could also have Benno Schmitz available following a two-game hamstring injury lay-off.

Match stats

Ten of Gladbach's last 11 goals have come from Alassane Plea (four), Thuram and Breel Embolo (both three).

The Foals are on their longest unbeaten run under Hütter (four games: W3, D1).

Gladbach have scored a league-high 63 per cent of their goals in the first half (26/41). Cologne top the division for goals in the second half (71 per cent; 29/41).

Nine of Modeste's 15 goals this season have been headers. The Frenchman has three goals in seven games for Cologne against Gladbach.

The Billy Goats have scored a league-high 15 times from crosses, including three in the reverse fixture. They have also delivered the most crosses from open play in the division (416); Gladbach the fewest (184).

Although Cologne have won the last two derbies, they have more Bundesliga losses against Gladbach (51) than any other opponent.

Probable line-ups

Gladbach: Sommer - Ginter, Elvedi, Beyer - Lainer, Neuhaus, Kone, Bensebaini - Hofmann, Stindl (c) - Plea

Out: Friedrich (match fitness)

Doubtful: Netz (abdominals), Thuram (knock)

Coach: Adi Hütter

Cologne: Schwäbe - Schmitz, Kilian, Hübers, Hector (c) - Skhiri, Özcan - Ljubicic, Uth, Kainz - Modeste

Out: -

Doubtful: Andersson (not included), Schindler (personal reasons)

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

About the clubs 1. FC Köln

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Borussia M'gladbach

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