1. FC Köln face a trip to FC Schalke 04 on Sunday afternoon. Here is all you need to know ahead of kick-off at 13:30 CEST at the VELTINS-Arena.
Form check
FC Schalke 04: Schalke are back at home for the first time since the opening day of the season. After the 5:1 win against Braunschweig, a defeat away to 1. FC Nürnberg followed. Schalke safely negotiated their way into the second round of the DFB-Pokal, beating VfR Aalen 2:0. Last time out, Kenan Karaman secured a share of the spoils in an entertaining 2:2 draw in Magdeburg.
1. FC Köln: FC picked up their first win of the 2. Bundesliga season last weekend and will be hoping to build on that on Sunday. Gerhard Struber was keen to emphasise the team performance during the 5:0 victory against Eintracht Braunschweig, where Dejan Ljubicic struck twice. He’ll be hoping for a similar performance from the Austrian international come kick-off.
The managers have their say
Karel Geraerts: “For me, 1. FC Köln are the clear favourites. After three away games, we’re finally back at home. They were long weeks so we’re happy to be back, are fans certainly will be as well. Results are important but my main concern is the performance. We’re in a process that isn’t complete after just a month. But every win helps us in our development.”
Gerhard Struber: “The team have a lot of individual quality and many new players. They have won matches through that moment of class. They have power and tempo on the counter and players in attack that can get past the last line with speed and dynamic. We are expecting an atmosphere that will test us to the max. We’ll have to give everything to bring the three points back to Köln.”
Fitness check
FC Schalke 04: Emil Højlund and Tomas Kalas remain unavailable to Geraerts. However, he will be able to call upon Ron Schallenberg once more, after he sat out his suspension against Magdeburg. Schalke are also hopeful that Paul Seguin and Adrian Gantenbein are fit again, though the Royal Blues will wait for the conclusion of Saturday’s training session before making a final decision.
1. FC Köln: Timo Hübers is a doubt for Sunday’s clash after illness this week. Otherwise, Gerhard Struber has the same set of players available that beat Braunschweig last weekend.
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