Hamburg host Cologne on Saturday night (kick-off 18:30 CET/17:30 GMT) in what is the definition of a relegation six-pointer and most certainly one of the most important games of the season for both sides.
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Hamburg’s struggles have continued into 2018 after starting the new calendar year with defeat to Augsburg, Markus Gisdol’s side have won just twice in their last 16 Bundesliga matches, but are likely to welcome back Fiete Arp, who missed out last weekend due to a cold. Key players like Albin Ekdal and Lewis Holtby remain absent.
Rejuvenated Cologne are feeling good about themselves after an incredible week following the last-minute Derby win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Despite the famous saying "don’t fix what is not broken", the Billy Goats will be welcoming back a number of players from injury as well as a new signing. Vincent Koziello could well start in Hamburg having signed from Nice, while Jhon Cordoba and Dominic Maroh have returned to team training and could be available once again for Stefan Ruthenbeck.
Watch: Simon Terodde was Man of the Matchday as Cologne won the Rhein-Derby last time out!
Probable line-ups
Hamburg: Pollersbeck - Diekmeier, Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Douglas – Sakai (c), Jung - Hahn, Salihovic, Kostic - Arp
Absentees: Ekdal (ankle), Holtby (knee), Müller (cruciate ligaments), Walace (back)
Coach: Markus Gisdol
Cologne: T. Horn – Sörensen, Mere, Heintz, Hector (c) – Höger, Koziello – Klünter, Jojic, Osako, Terodde
Absentees: Queiros (neck), Bittencourt (groin)
Coach: Stefan Ruthenbeck
Match stats
The last time these sides were bottom and second-bottom coming into a game was in 2011: despite twice taking the lead, Hamburg lost 4-3. Cologne have won the last two Bundesliga games; the club last achieved three wins on the bounce under the stewardship of Volker Finke in 2011.Hamburg and Cologne have the worst records of all current top-flight sides in Saturday-evening fixtures - HSV average 0.9 points in this kick-off slot, Cologne only 0.7.Cologne would move to within three points of Hamburg with a win.Hamburg have only won twice in the Bundesliga in the last 16 games.Lewis Holtby has scored six goals against Cologne in his Bundesliga career, more than against any other side.
Source: bundesliga.com