Without a win this season, basement boys Cologne are looking to end a miserable Hinrunde with a precious three points, but an improving Wolfsburg side will present a stiff test on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 15:30 CET/14:30 GMT).
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After Stefan Ruthenbeck sent his side out with an ultra-defensive mindset for the 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in midweek, the interim Cologne coach could return to two up front, with Christian Clemens likely to line up alongside right-back-cum-makeshift-striker Lukas Klünter in attack. Otherwise, the Billy Goats' injury problems leave them few options, with another youthful bench expected.
Despite his remarkable late miss in Wolfsburg's 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig on Matchday 16, Divock Origi should return up front alongside Mario Gomez for Wolfsburg in Cologne, meaning Yannick Gerhardt - returning to his boyhood club - could miss out. Doubts surround who will start at left-back for the Wolves: if William is rested, then Marcel Tisserand or Gian-Luca Itter could be in contention for a starting berth.
Watch: On-loan Liverpool strike Origi discusses his miss against Leipzig last time out!
Probable line-ups
Cologne: T. Horn - Olkowski, Sorensen, Heintz, J. Horn - Lehmann (c), Özcan - Jojic, Handwerker - Clemens, Klünter
Absentees: Joao Queiros (neck), Maroh (thigh), Bittencourt (hip), J. Hector (ankle), Höger (muscular), Rausch (muscular), Risse (knee), Cordoba (thigh), Guirassy (toe), Osako (lung), Pizarro (thigh), Zoller (thigh)
Coach: Stefan Ruthenbeck
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Verhaegh, Uduokhai, Brooks, Tisserand - Guilavogui, Arnold - Didavi, Malli - Origi, Gomez (c)
Absentees: Blaszczykowski (back), Camacho (ankle)
Coach: Martin Schmidt
Match stats
Wolfsburg have drawn nine of their 12 games under Schmidt. No coach with more than one game in charge has ever drawn such a large proportion of Bundesliga matches.The Wolves have lost just one of 12 games under Schmidt – a lower loss percentage than when Pep Guardiola was in charge at Bayern!Cologne are unbeaten in five league games against Wolfsburg (W1, D4).Wolfsburg have thrown away a lead on six occasions this season (D5, L1). That’s more than any other team.Currently out injured, Sehrou Guirassy has scored four of the Billy Goats’ nine goals this Bundesliga campaign.Four of the last five teams sitting bottom at Christmas have been relegated.
Source: bundesliga.com