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

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After their 4-0 loss to Bayern Munich on Matchday 27, Union are three games without a win. Urs Fischer has watched his goal-shy side score just four times in their previous seven games, firing blanks in five of those matches. No better time then for Awoniyi to rediscover his early season form in front of goal. The Nigerian scored nine times across the first 14 matchdays of the season but has found the back of the net just twice since. That has summed up Union's recent struggles as they've slipped from fourth as recently as Matchday 21 to ninth going into the weekend. The return of captain Christopher Trimmel is imminent, which will boost Union hopes, while Dominique Heintz could also be in contention to feature after missing the loss to Bayern. Japan international Keita Endo, meanwhile, remains an absentee.

Cologne have also been a bit hit and miss in recent weeks. The side led by Steffen Baumgart have lost just one of their last five, however, and a win over Union could move them to within two points of fourth. The Billy Goats' talisman Modeste hit both his team's goals in the 2-2 draw between the two earlier this term, but he has scored just one goal in those five most recent matches. It was strike partner Sebastian Andersson who hit the equaliser in Cologne's 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund before the international break. Ondrej Duda picked up a fifth yellow card of the season in that draw so will sit out the trip to the capital, but Florian Kainz is fit again and should start. Jan Thielmann is also pushing for a place in the starting XI, meaning Mark Uth could move into a central attacking midfield position behind Andersson and Modeste.

Match stats

Awoniyi scored seven of his 11 goals across the first 10 matches of the Hinrunde. He's struck twice in 10 Rückrunde games.

Post-winter blues: Union are five points worse off than at the same stage during the first half of the season for the second year in a row.

The game will be Union's 40th in all competitions so far this season (W17, D10, L12). No Bundesliga team has had to contend with so many fixtures.

The last time Modeste went four games without scoring, he then netted in three straight games (Matchdays 16-18).

Cologne have never beaten Union in the Bundesliga. The 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture ended a run of four defeats against the capital club.

The Billy Goats have been involved in a league-high six away draws this season.

Probable line-ups

Union: Luthe - Jaeckel, Knoche, Baumgartl - Khedira - Trimmel (c), Haraguchi, Prömel, Gießelmann - Becker, Awoniyi

Out: Endo (knee)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Urs Fischer

Cologne: Schwäbe - Ehizibue, Kilian, Hübers, Hector (c) - Özcan - Thielmann, Uth, Kainz - Andersson, Modeste

Out: Duda (suspended), Schmitz (thigh)

Doubtful: Schaub (ill)

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

About the clubs 1. FC Köln

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1. FC Union Berlin

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