On Saturday, starting with 14:30, the Dortmund – Cologne match will be played, within the 9th round of the Bundesliga. Dortmund have won the last 4 direct matches, scoring 10 times in the previous two home matches. Last season, the “yellow-blacks” won 3-1 in Cologne and 5-1 on “Signal Iduna Park”.
Dortmund is going through an excellent period, winning 6 of the last 7 matches in all competitions, being defeated only by Bayern, 2-3 in the Bundesliga. Lucien Favre’s students come after a show of strength with Brugge, 3-0 in the Champions League, coming after the impressive victory with Hertha, 5-2 last weekend. The “yellow-blacks” have 18 points in the internal ranking and remain on the coast of the Bayern leader, who ticked 19 points in the first 8 rounds. At home, Dortmund won its 3 matches without a goal, except for the aforementioned failure, in the hands of the Bavarians.
Koln also lost against Union Berlin, score 1-2 in the 8th round, reaching 18 consecutive matches without victory in the Bundesliga, a negative record for the club. Although his contract was extended this summer until 2023, coach Markus Gisdol is under incredible pressure, and this negative series could lead to his dismissal. Koln ticked 3 draws this season, being tied for points with the last ranked, Schalke. The “carpets” have two equal results and a defeat in the seasonal trips, but the negative record with Dortmund can bring them even more problems.
Dortmund is the favorite to achieve a comfortable success, and the goal scorer Erling-Braut Haaland is in extraordinary shape. In the Bundesliga, the Norwegian has 10 goals and two assists in the 7 stages in which he played, and Cologne’s defense will be terribly tested by the sharp attacks of the hosts.
Dortmund have won the last 4 direct matches;
Cologne have conceded 10 goals in their last two visits to “Signal Iduna Park”;
Last season, Dortmund won 3-1 away and 5-1 at home;
Dortmund: Bürki – Meunier, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro – Can, Witsel – Sancho, Reus (c), Reyna – Haaland
Absent: Reinier, Schmelzer, Zagadou
Coach: Lucien Favre
Koln: T. Horn (c) – Wolf, Bornauw, Czichos, Katterbach – Skhiri – Limnios, Duda, Özcan, Jakobs – Andersson
Absent: Hector, Kainz
Coach: Markus Gisdol
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,41
