Freiburg vs. Cologne: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

Latest

Freiburg are riding high in third place after 12 matches, just two points behind leaders Union Berlin. Christian Streich's side have lost only twice in the league so far this term - to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund - and sailed through their section in the UEFA Europa League, sealing top spot in Group G with room to spare. As such, Streich made wholesale changes for Thursday's dead rubber away to Azerbaijan's Qarabag. Captain Christian Günter was the only player from the team that began the 2-0 win at Schalke to be included in the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken, defensive lynchpin Ginter and top scorer Vincenzo Grifo are among the raft of first-team regulars that should be as fit as a daisy come Bundesliga Matchday 13.

Cologne were another of the Bundesliga's surprise packages last season. The Billy Goats' reward was a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they fell narrowly short of reaching the knockouts following Thursday's 2-2 draw with Nice. Results have also been mixed closer to home, with a comeback win over Borussia Dortmund and 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim sandwiching heavy defeats to Borussia Mönchengladbach (5-2) and Mainz (5-0). Steffen Baumgart's team begin the weekend in mid-table, albeit only two points adrift of the top six. Reports surfaced in the week of Jonas Hector turning down the opportunity to come out of international retirement in time for Germany's 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign. The Cologne captain's focus is instead on club football and returning to fitness after two matches on the sidelines with a foot problem. Kristian Pedersen is set to deputise at left-back once more, but attackers Florian Dietz and Mark Uth have been ruled out.

Match stats

Grifo has scored six times after 12 matches - a personal record.

Freiburg's 24 points at this stage of a Bundesliga season is a club record.

Only Eintracht Frankfurt have scored more goals from set-pieces (nine) than Freiburg's eight. Die Breisgauer's one goal conceded from set plays, meanwhile, is a Bundesliga low shared with Werder Bremen.

Florian Kainz's five goals marks a personal single-season record. With four assists, that's an even greater goal contribution than Grifo (eight).

Cologne took four points off Freiburg last season, but it's almost 20 years since they went unbeaten through three Bundesliga matches against Die Breisgauer (2001-2003).

The Billy Goats have lost six of their last eight trips to the Black Forest.

Get Grifo for your Fantasy team for 15.5M!

Want more Bundesliga Action?

Sign up for our official newsletter:

E-Mail*

Subscribe

I hereby agree to the TERMS OF USE and PRIVACY STATEMENT and consent that DFL will collect, use, process and store my data if necessary for the selected Service(s). I understand that I can withdraw my consent(s) at any time. *Required

* Required

Probable teams

Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter (c) - Eggestein, Höfler - Doan, Kyereh, Grifo - Gregoritsch

Out: Ezekwem (muscular), Gulde (back)

Doubtful: Schade (thigh), Schmid (muscular)

Coach: Christian Streich

Cologne: Schwäbe - Schmitz, Kilian, Hübers, Pedersen - Skhiri, Martel - Maina, Duda, Kainz (c) - Tigges

Out: Andersson (knee), Dietz (knee), Lemperle (ankle), Limnios (knee), Ljubicic (knee), Uth (fitness)

Doubtful: Hector (foot)

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

About the clubs SC Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion

1. FC Köln

RheinEnergieSTADION

Share