Pre-match facts: VfB vs. 1. FC Köln

Record against Köln

Overall: 103 games. 36 wins, 26 draws, 41 defeats. 165:162 goal difference.

Göz Atın

Deserved home win over Frankfurt

“A wonderful evening of football”

“A top game against top opponents”

Bundesliga: 93 games. 31 wins, 26 draws, 36 defeats. 151:147 goal difference.

Looking back

Unlike the reverse fixture this season, which ended goalless, the last home match against Köln is one that VfB fans will remember forever. Wataru Endo’s goal to make it 2-1 in stoppage time secured Bundesliga survival on the final day.

Form

Köln travel south on a five-match unbeaten run. The 7-1 victory over Werder Bremen was the Billy Goats’ biggest win of the campaign, while they’ve also picked up points against Bayern Munich (1-1), RB Leipzig, Schalke 04 (both 0-0) and Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0).

Average goals

There have been 298 goals scored in the 93 Bundesliga encounters between VfB and Köln – an average of 3.2 per game.

Team news

Serhou Guirassy remains sidelined with an adductor tear. Tiago Tomas has returned to training this week but is not yet an option for the matchday squad. Köln are without defender Timo Hübers, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend.