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Up for the cup! The DFB-Pokal is underway and 1. FC Köln start their Pokal path on Sunday afternoon against SV Sandhausen. The 3. Liga outfit are in good form but have injury concerns ahead of the game.
Form check
SV Sandhausen: For Sandhausen, this is the fourth competitive fixture of the season. In their previous three fixtures, they’ve won without conceding. After a victory against VfL Osnabrück on the opening day, they progressed in the bfv-Rothaus-Pokal with a 6:0 win over FC Türkspor Mannheim. To top off the perfect start to the new campaign, they battled to secure all three points with a 1:0 success in Saarbrücken.
1. FC Köln: Gerhard Struber’s side picked up their first point of the season after a 2:2 draw against SV Elversberg last weekend. Much like against HSV, FC were the team in control for large parts of the game but were unable to make their chances count. Struber will be keen to put that into practice on Sunday, being clinical in front of goal and securing a first win as FC head coach.
The managers have had their say
Sreto Ristic: “Köln may only have one point after two games but it could have been six. The team have a huge amount of individual quality. On paper, it’s clear. But the past Pokal games from Sandhausen show that we have experienced an awful lot here in Hardtwald. That’s why we’re really looking forward to the game. We want to offer up an experience and fill the stadium so that we see a lot of those fans in the coming weeks.”
Gerhard Struber: “Sandhausen is an opponent, who will sit a little deep and will let us have more of the ball. They have a couple of good counter-attacking players within their ranks. We have the clear aim of progressing on Sunday. We have a plan and want to progress in the competition. Our full focus is on the first round. We know that it will be a difficult task.”
Fitness update
SV Sandhausen: Niklas Lang and Luca Zander remain absent and will not play a part in Sreto Ristic’s plans. Patrick Greil, who missed the game against Saarbrücken, could return to the squad. Sandhausen are definitely without Jonas Weik, who tore his ACL and underwent surgery last week.
1. FC Köln: There are no new injury concerns from the latest training week at Geißbockheim. Eric Martel is suspended, and Gerhard Struber will wait to name a replacement for him in the middle. Otherwise, the Austrian head coach will decide whether Julian Pauli or Dominique Heintz will start beside Timo Hübers.