FC Cologne vs Werder Bremen Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 German Bundesliga
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is FC Cologne vs Werder Bremen on and what time does it start? FC Cologne vs Werder Bremen will take place on Friday 16th February, 2024 – 19:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for FC Cologne vs Werder Bremen? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is FC Cologne vs Werder Bremen 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 Werder Bremen
Where can I stream FC Cologne vs Werder Bremen in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, FC Cologne vs Werder Bremen can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
FC COLOGNE
FC Cologne couldn’t hang on to their slim advantage away to Hoffenheim last weekend, conceding in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time which cost them two precious points after taking the lead with 11 minutes of normal time remaining. The 1-1 draw means that it’s now just one win from their last eight Bundesliga fixtures, keeping them firmly planted inside the bottom three with a five-point gap now between themselves and 15th-placed Union Berlin.
A yellow card in that match for Jeff Chabot means the defender will serve a suspension here, which is likely to see Timo Hubers come into the starting line-up after missing the Hoffenheim game through injury, partnering Luca Kilian in central defence. Striker Steffen Tigges could also earn a spot in the XI after coming off the bench last time out.
WERDER BREMEN
Werder Bremen’s three-match Bundesliga winning streak came to an end last Saturday, Ole Werner’s men losing by two goals to one at home against Heidenheim. A blistering start from the newly-promoted side stunned the hosts, who found themselves two goals down within the first 18 minutes. Although Werder rallied immediately, scoring within one minute of Heidenheim’s second goal, the visitors expertly shut the game down thereafter and Werder could not break them down.
That defeat dropped Werder Bremen into tenth-placed with Heidenheim overtaking them, so bouncing back at the first time of asking will be important for them. It’s worth noting that Werder have scored at least once in each of their last eight fixtures, underlining how difficult it is to shut them out over the course of 90 minutes.
THE TEAM NEWS
FC COLOGNE
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Schwabe; Schmitz, Kilian, Hubers, Finkgrafe; Huseinbasic, Martel; Thielmann, Kainz, Ljubicic; Tigges
UNAVAILABLE: Chabot (Suspended), Selke (Injured), Uth (Injured), Waldschmidt (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
WERDER BREMEN
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Zetterer; Malatini, Friedl, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Lynen, Stage, Agu; Borre, Ducksch
UNAVAILABLE: Opitz (Injured), Pieper (Injured), Stark (Injured), Veljkovic (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Three points for FC Cologne here would be huge when taking into account the current Bundesliga table, but when taking into account that three of their last five league fixtures have seen them fail to keep a lead, the hosts are clearly finding it difficult to get over the line in games. Werder Bremen will not want to follow up their recent three-match winning streak with a losing run straight after, so getting something from this one is a huge priority for them, even if it were just a point. With that in mind, it may be the case that both teams would be satisfied with a draw, adding another point of distance between FC Cologne and the bottom two, so it’s worth backing this outcome.
TIP: DRAW
