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

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Modeste took his tally for the season to 13 Bundesliga goals when he found the net in the 2-2 draw at Bochum on Matchday 20, and he could be key to them closing in on the top six with a victory this weekend. Mark Uth could join him in attack this week as the Billy Goats try to improve on their record of just one win in their last four home matches in all competitions. Austrian midfielder Dejan Ljubicic has shaken off a head knock in time to play, while Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri is an option again after his return from the Africa Cup of Nations. With head coach Steffen Baumgart in isolation, assistant coach Andre Pawlak will be in the dugout.

So often the case under Christian Streich, Freiburg are once again defying the odds by enjoying another impressive season. Before the international break his team followed up a 4-1 DFB Cup last-16 success away to Hoffenheim by beating VfB Stuttgart 2-0 at home in the Bundesliga. Vincenzo Grifo scored twice in the first of those games, while young German attacker Kevin Schade struck in both to help his side set up a quarter-final clash with Bochum, as well as lift them to fifth in the table. Those two wide men will feature on Streich's teamsheet again this week, and there's a good chance that the long-serving coach won't make any changes to the XI that delivered their two most recent victories. Streich has confirmed, meanwhile, that winter arrival Huqo Siquet will be eased in with the reserves before getting first-team minutes.

Match stats

Cologne have delivered more crosses (301) and scored more goals from crosses (14) than any other club in the Bundesliga this season.

Their 12 goals from headers is more than any other club, with Freiburg (11) second on that list.

Modeste has five goals in his last five games. His overall record against Freiburg also reads five goals in as many matches.

Grifo is Freiburg's chief attacking threat this season with four goals and six assists.

Streich has won nine of 13 meetings with Cologne as a coach (D1, L3).

Christian Günter has started Freiburg's last 99 Bundesliga games and can bring up a straight century in this fixture. No other player in the Bundesliga is on such a long run of consecutive appearances.

Probable line-ups

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

Out: -

Doubtful: -

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler, Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck, Günter (c) - Schade, Eggestein, Höfler, Grifo - Demirovic, Höler

Out: -

Doubtful: -

Coach: Christian Streich