FC Cologne vs Stuttgart Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 German Bundesliga
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THE FACTS
When is FC Cologne vs Stuttgart on and what time does it start? FC Cologne vs Stuttgart will take place on Saturday 30th September, 2023 – 14:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for FC Cologne vs Stuttgart? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is FC Cologne vs Stuttgart on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to German Bundesliga matches in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for FC Cologne vs Stuttgart
Where can I stream FC Cologne vs Stuttgart in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, FC Cologne vs Stuttgart can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
FC COLOGNE
FC Cologne are one of five teams yet to record a league victory in 2023-24 so far and the pressure is starting to build on them. Only four goals scored in five matches tells the story really and just one point from a possible 15 is simply not good enough. Since their hard-fought 1-1 draw away at Eintracht Frankfurt prior to the international break, things have gone badly wrong since.
A 1-3 defeat at the hands of Hoffenheim was backed up by them losing 2-1 away at Werder Bremen despite them taking the lead through Davie Selke, who has now scored in consecutive league games for the hosts, a rare positive for them considering their attacking struggles.
STUTTGART
Stuttgart’s magnificent start to the campaign shows no signs of stopping just yet, with four successive wins helping them to the lofty heights of third-place going into the latest round of Bundesliga fixtures. Although unless Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund draw in their Friday night clash, then Stuttgart will drop a place ahead of their trip to FC Cologne on Saturday.
Scoring goals has been their main source of success, putting any defensive frailties to the side and blowing their opponents away offensively. After beating Mainz 1-3 a fortnight ago, Stuttgart repeated the feat at home to Darmstadt last time out, Serhou Guirassy once again among the goals with a brace.
THE TEAM NEWS
FC COLOGNE
A 4-2-3-1 formation appears most likely for FC Cologne who remain without attackers Jan Thielmann and Mark Uth. Noah Katterbach is also missing for the hosts, as is Eric Martel and Mathias Olesen, who are nursing achilles and hamstring issues respectively.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Schwabe; Schmitz, Hubers, Chabot, Paqarada; Huseinbasic, Ljubicic; Carstensen, Kainz, Maina; Selke
UNAVAILABLE: Katterbach (Injured), Martel (Injured), Olesen (Injured), Thielmann (Injured), Uth (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
STUTTGART
Stuttgart could be without both Thomas Kastanaras and Silas Mvumpa, who are both struggling with injuries, although neither are ruled out entirely. However, the likes of Nartey, Raimund and Vagnoman won’t feature in Cologne and neither will Jeong Woo-yeong, who is away with South Korea.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Nubel; Stenzel, Anton, Zagadou, Ito; Karazor, Stiller; Fuhrich, Millot, Mittelstadt; Guirassy
UNAVAILABLE: Jeong (International Duty), Nartey (Injured), Raimund (Illness), Vagnoman (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Kastanaras (Injured), Silas (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
One of the lowest scorers in this season’s Bundesliga take on a Stuttgart side who can’t stop finding the net at the moment, having already quadrupled FC Cologne’s goal tally after five rounds of fixtures. All the momentum is with the visitors, who are riding the crest of a wave at present and it’s hard to see FC Cologne being able to keep them out over the course of 90 minutes. Back Stuttgart to show enough quality going forward to get the better of the hosts.
TIP: STUTTGART TO WIN
