FC Koln will host Holstein Kiel at RheinEnergieStadion on Tuesday night, with both teams aiming to book a place in the DFB-Pokal round of 16.
The hosts needed extra time to defeat third-division side SV Sandhausen in the first round, while the visitors edged another third-division team, Alemannia Aachen.
Match preview
![Denis Huseinbasic FC Koln - Viktoria Koln (1. FC Koln, 8) hadert. Testspiel, 1. FC Koln - Viktoria Koln, am 20.07.2024, Sportpark Hohenberg, Koln. Test match 1 FC Koln Viktoria Koln, 20 07 2024 [on July 22, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/denis-huseinbasic.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Denis Huseinbasic FC Koln - Viktoria Koln (1. FC Koln, 8) hadert. Testspiel, 1. FC Koln - Viktoria Koln, am 20.07.2024, Sportpark Hohenberg, Koln. Test match 1 FC Koln Viktoria Koln, 20 07 2024 [on July 22, 2024]")
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Koln were relegated to the second division after finishing second-bottom in the Bundesliga table last season, ending a four-year stint in the top flight.
The Billy Goats have not settled well to life in the lower league as they currently sit 12th in the table with 12 points from 10 matches, which leaves them eight points off the summit.
The DFB-Pokal is an opportunity for Koln to rub shoulders with the teams in the top flight this season, but they will have to raise their game as it took a goal in extra time for them to get past third-division side SV Sandhausen in the first round of the competition.
A place in the round of 16 awaits the Billy Goats, but they have to first get past Holstein Kiel in what will be the first-ever meeting between both clubs in this competition.
However, it will be the fifth encounter between both sides across all competitions, having met twice each in the second division and the Bundesliga relegation/promotion playoffs, with Koln winning two and losing one of those meetings.
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Meanwhile, Bundesliga newcomers Holstein Kiel will be hoping to match on in the DFB-Pokal after a 3-2 win away at Alemannia Aachen in the first round of the competition.
Trailing into the last 10 minutes, it took a brace from Lasse Rosenboom, who scored the winning goal in stoppage time, to turn the game around for the Storks.
It is the only away win that Kiel have recorded across all competitions this season having played five such games, which leaves some doubt in their ability to repeat the result away at Koln.
The Storks have experienced a tough start to life in what is their first-ever top-flight campaign, as they still await their first-ever Bundesliga win after playing eight matches, which has left them second-bottom in the table.
Team News
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Koln will remain without long-term absentees, Luca Kilian and Jacob Christensen, with both players sidelined with ACL injuries until December and April respectively.
Mathias Olesen scored the decisive goal in the last round, and the midfielder will be hoping to return to the starting lineup for this one.
Meanwhile, Holstein Kiel will be without defender Colin Kleine-Bekel until later in November, while forwards Andu Yobel Kelati and Alexander Bernhardsson are not scheduled to return from injury until early next month.
Midfielder Lewis Holtby is also sidelined for Monday's clash as he is currently nursing a back injury that is predicted to keep him out until next month.
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Urbig; Thielmann, Ubers, Pauli, Paqarada; Martel, Olsen; Maina, Waldschmidt, Ljubicic; Lemperle
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Becker, Ivezic, Erras, Komenda, Porath; Gigovic, Knudsen, Remberg; Pichler, Machino
We say: FC Koln 2-1 Holstein Kiel
Both teams are coming into this clash low on confidence, but Koln have still managed to win some games compared to Kiel who have won just one competitive game all season, which is why we expect the hosts to edge this out, even if it goes to extra time.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
