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

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Modeste is currently on a three-game goal drought, his longest such barren spell this season, so will be particularly motivated to be back among the goals as the Billy Goats get Matchday 15 under way. Currently in the relative safety of ninth, Cologne are six points clear of the relegation zone after following up their morale-boosting 4-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 13 with a 1-1 draw in Bielefeld last week. First-choice goalkeeper Timo Horn remains sidelined with a knee injury, but Jonas Hector is in line to return to action after a spell on the sidelines, and could slot straight in at left-back, with Benno Schmitz reverting to the opposite flank.

Augsburg remain in the bottom three after slipping to a 3-2 defeat at home to Bochum last time out. As frustrating as the result was, with Markus Weinzierl's side 3-0 down at half-time, they can take encouragement from pulling two goals back in a second-half fightback. Oxford remains on the sidelines, but fellow first-choice central defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw is expected to go straight back into the side. Frederik Winther should partner the Dutchmen, with the game likely to come too soon for Felix Uduokhai, who only recently returned to training following three months out with a thigh injury. At the other end of the pitch, Michael Gregoritsch is pushing for a start after scoring off the bench in two straight games.

Match stats

Modeste is Cologne's eight-goal top scorer this season, but he hasn't found the target in his last three outings. He hasn't gone more than three games without a goal this term.

The Billy Goats are unbeaten in their last four games and have only lost three times. Bayern are the only team with fewer league defeats this term (two).

Cologne are the only team still with an unbeaten home record in the Bundesliga in 2021/22, while Augsburg are without a win in their last 13 away matches.

Nevertheless, Augsburg have lost just two of their 14 Bundesliga meetings with Cologne.

With a top speed of 22.03 mph (35.46 kmh), Ruben Vargas is Augsburg's fastest player this season - and in the top 10 in the Bundesliga overall in 2021/22.

Florian Niederlechner has a goal and an assist to show for his last two trips to Cologne with Augsburg.

Probable line-ups

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

Out: Hauptmann (illness), T. Horn (knee), Köbbing (knee), Ostrak (muscular), Uth (illness),

Doubtful: -

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gumny, Gouweleeuw (c), Winther, Iago - Caligiuri, Maier, Dorsch, Vargas - Hahn, Gregoritsch

Out: Framberger (ankle), Oxford (muscular), Sarenren Bazee (knee), Strobl (knee)

Doubtful: Pedersen (knee), Uduokhai (match fitness), Zeqiri (knock)

Coach: Markus Weinzierl