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

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Cologne lost a little ground on their fellow European hopefuls by letting slip a lead in their 1-1 draw with bottom club Greuther Fürth on Matchday 24 but Steffen Baumgart's team are far from out of the running for a top-six finish. They go into week 25 of the campaign just four points off the teams that occupy fourth, fifth and sixth and will be looking to close that gap further on Sunday night. Anthony Modeste has been firing the Billy Goats' charge thus far and the Greuther match was just the second time in his last eight games that the French striker hasn't found the back of the net. Timo Hübers fell ill this week and could be replaced by Julian Chabot at centre-back, while Jannes Horn and Dejan Ljubicic were both back in training and are in contention to feature in some capacity.

Hoffenheim are one of the three teams sitting on 40 points that Cologne are trying to keep pace with and TSG could finish the day in fourth if there is no winner in the meeting between Leipzig and Freiburg on Saturday. Trailing 1-0 and with the clock ticking, Hoffenheim came from behind to claim a second successive 2-1 victory on Matchday 24 as they saw off lowly VfB Stuttgart at the death. Christoph Baumgartner was the hero then, scoring in the 85th and 90th minute to turn the game on its head and chalk up a third win on the bounce for his team. Dennis Geiger went off in that game and has been treated for concussion this week, while his replacement Sebastian Rudy also pulled up with a hamstring injury. That leaves coach Sebastian Hoeneß with a decision to make over whether it's Diadie Samassekou or Angelo Stiller that steps into the base of Hoffenehim's midfield. Meanwhile, Chris Richards remains sidelined with a foot injury picked up on international duty with the USA.

Match stats

Without Modeste's team-leading 15 goals, Cologne could be as many as 17 points worse off, and down in the relegation zone.

Modeste scored 23 times in 62 competitive appearances for Hoffenheim. The Frenchman is winless and without a goal or assist in seven Bundesliga meetings against his former club, though.

Cologne have not won in 11 Bundesliga matches against Hoffenheim, losing the last seven in a row.

With four goals in as many games (all wins), Baumgartner has scored more times against Cologne than any other team he's faced.

Sebastian Rudy is set to make his 300th competitive appearance for Hoffenheim.

Hoffenheim have won a league-high six games from losing positions so far this season. That's twice as many as any club.

Probable line-ups

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

Out: Hübers (not included)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Posch, Grillitsch, Akpoguma - Kaderabek, Baumgartner, Samassekou, Kramaric, Raum - Bebou, Rutter

Out: Bicakcic (knee), Hübner (ill), Nordtveit (thigh), Richards (foot), Rudy (hamstring), Skov (thigh)

Doubtful: Geiger (concussion), Vogt (groin)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß