Our next opponents: FC Köln unbeaten in five games

Position

Alongside Bayern Munich, FC Köln are currently the only team in the Bundesliga with a run of five games without defeat. Under René Wagner, the Red and Whites have picked up five points in their last three games. The former assistant to Lukas Kwasniok took over as first team coach four weeks ago. And Wagner seems to be stabilising the team. Most recently, FC Köln secured a 1-1 draw at FC St. Pauli. Luca Waldschmidt equalised with a penalty just before the final whistle. "An important point for us," said managing director Thomas Kessler. "To be honest, we didn't deserve more over 90 minutes." Goalkeeper and captain Marvin Schwäbe, FC Köln's best player in Hamburg, also declared: "The point is incredibly valuable. If you’d looked at the table when we were behind, it wouldn't have looked so good." As it stands, however, FC Köln are twelfth in the table and seven points clear of a direct relegation spot and five points clear of the relegation play-off with four games to go in the battle to avoid relegation. The Red and Whites also have the best goal difference of all the teams at the bottom of the top flight.

Thomas Kessler attests to the good work done by the new coach. The intensity in training is noticeably higher once again. Kessler: "These are small things that I had hoped for with the change, and it's good we haven't lost any of the three matches. These are exactly the small steps we need so that we can play in the Bundesliga again next season." Striker Luca Waldschmidt also praised the 37-year-old Wagner: "He's doing a good job, also when talking to the team. He gets to grips with us well and communicates content well. That goes down well with us."

Leverkusen, Union Berlin, Heidenheim and finally an away game at the old and new champions of Germany Bayern Munich - those are the remaining fixtures for the team from Cologne. On matchday 32 at the earliest, the game at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei could see FC Köln secure their top-flight status. However, if things go badly, there could also be a decider at FC Bayern. And from an FC Köln perspective, that is something to be avoided at all costs.

Personnel

FC Köln will probably have to do without striker Ragnar Ache for the final part of the season. The 27-year-old suffered a muscle injury in last weekend's clash with FC St. Pauli. Ache will definitely be unavailable on Saturday. The two long-term injured centre-backs Timo Hübers (rehab after knee injury) and Luca Kilian (rehab after torn cruciate) are also sidelined. Wagner has relied on two loan players in this position for the last two games. Cenk Özkacar moved from Valencia to Cologne last summer, and FC Köln have an option to buy the 25-year-old Turk. The Red and Whites signed his fellow centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who is five years younger, from Manchester City in January of this year. Born in England, he played at City in the U21 squad, but he also made several appearances for the first team under Pep Guardiola.

Sebastian Sebulonsen is likely to line up at right-back, as he has recently. Kristoffer Lund and Alessio Castro-Montes are available on the left flank. In central midfield, Wagner opted for the duo of Eric Martel and Isak Johannesson in the draw at St. Pauli and in the 3-1 win over Werder Bremen, flanked by Jakub Kaminski and Jan Thielmann on the wings. Linton Maina could also replace the latter. Kaminski, on the other hand, is the only FC Köln player apart from goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe to have started all 30 league games so far. The loanee from VfL Wolfsburg has only missed 21 Bundesliga minutes this season. FC Köln top scorer Said El Mala is a first choice up front. Luca Waldschmidt and Marius Bülter are options in place of the injured Ragnar Ache.

Problems

FC Köln have been highly vulnerable at set-pieces a lot this term. They have conceded 22 goals from dead balls, almost half of them from corners. This is also how Robert Andrich scored in the 2-0 victory for the Werkself in the Hinrunde with a header from a corner kick. Only VfL Wolfsburg have conceded one more goal from set-pieces. However, FC Köln have worked on their weaknesses in the Rückrunde, with Schwäbe only having to pick the ball out of the net twice after set plays. The team from Cologne, on the other hand, have made little of their own set-pieces: with eleven goals from set-pieces, our Rhineland neighbours are only ranked 15th.

Performers

Said El Mala and Jakub Kaminski are among the most influential figures in the FC Köln game. Under Wagner's predecessor Kwasniok, El Mala often only came off the bench, and his role as a super sub was much discussed in Cologne. With four goals and three assists, the youngster is the most successful substitute this season. In total, El Mala has scored eleven goals and provided four assists. René Wagner has always included the fast (35.91 kmph ) and dribbling U21 international in the starting eleven in the last three matches. Kaminski, on the other hand, is the great constant at the ‘Effzeh’. The ever-present is always on the pitch (see above), produces the most shots on goal of all FC Köln players (44), covers the fourth most kilometres in the league (342.24) and, with twelve goal involvements (seven goals, five assists), is the second-best player after El Mala (15 goal and assists) together with Ragnar Ache (also 7/5). In addition to these key attacking players, Eric Martel provides the necessary physical approach as a number six. With 275 duels won, the 23-year-old is the man for the rough and tumble in midfield. That is also reflected in his nine yellow cards so far this term. Only HSV player Nicolai Remberg (10) tops that in the Bundesliga.

One of the Red and White strengths is their offensive transition play. With eight goals from counter-attacks, they are among the top four in the league in this ranking. Only Bayern, HSV and Bayer 04 are even more dangerous with their fast transition play. The FC Köln ability to comeback from behind are also remarkable: At St. Pauli, the Red and Whites picked up at least one point for the tenth time this season after falling behind. Only Bayern Munich have managed to do that more often. The FC Köln attack has proved to be effective time and time again. The Red and Whites have netted a total of 44 goals so far, 37 of which were scored by the strikers and attacking wingers and midfielders.