We have been treated to some excellent Friday night matches in the Bundesliga this season and we are set for another this week as Koln welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Rhein Energie Stadion. Koln come into this match sitting bottom of the table and in desperate need of maximum points if they are to climb out of the relegation zone. They remain 7 points adrift of safety prior to this weekends fixtures but could close that to 4 with a win.
Borussia Dortmund start the match in 6th place, which is the final Europa League qualifying spot in the Bundesliga. However, a win in this match could see them move back up to second place in the table and into the Champions League positions.
Koln Form
Koln come into this match on a 4-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, which is the best form of their entire campaign. They have won 3 and drawn one of those 4 games, picking up maximum points against Wolfsburg, Borussia Monchengladbach and Hamburg. The draw came against Augsburg at home last weekend.
Koln’s form has improved in line with their attacking play. They have scored 6 goals in their 4 league games and while that may not seem like a lot, it accounts for 40% of their total Bundesliga goals this season.
They have also improved at the back, conceding just 2 goals in their last 4 Bundesliga matches.
Borussia Dortmund Form
Borussia Dortmund have been hugely inconsistent this season but have remained undefeated in their last 5 Bundesliga games. However, only 2 of those matches produced wins and the last 3 have all ended in draws. The draws have come against Wolfsburg and Freiburg at home and away to Hertha Berlin.
Borussia Dortmund’s 2 recent wins have been their only victories in their last 13 Bundesliga games but they have remained undefeated in 10 of their last 12 away league games and this shows they have been tough to beat.
Scoring goals has not been a problem for Borussia Dortmund away from home in the Bundesliga this season but they have kept only one clean sheet in their last 7 away league games. An improvement in defence will surely see an improvement in results.
Team News
Koln with be without four players for this match and of Leonardo Bittencourt, Marcel Risse, Jhon Cordoba and Marco Hoger all miss out due to injury. Borussia Dortmund have continuing injury problems of their own and have several players on the treatment table including Marco Reus, Sebastian Rode, Max Philipp, Raphael Guerreiro, Marcel Schmeltzer, Eric Durm and Andriy Yarmolenko.
Top Betting Tips
This has the makings on a good game, with both teams having plenty to play for and going for the win. Koln have improved in-front of goal and will fancy their chances of scoring against Borussia Dortmund but the visitors should also get on the scoresheet. Both teams to score is 8/13 with Betbright.
Borussia Dortmund are struggling to settle on a consistent starting XI this season and could be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is on the verge of a move to Arsenal. This disturbance could lead the way for a surprise home win and Koln are 16/5 with Ladbrokes to win the match.
If Koln are to get something from this game, they will be looking towards Simon Terodde who has 3 goals in his last three games. The German striker is 5/2 with Ladbrokes to score at any time.