Cologne vs Hamburg Predictions

• Cologne have been playing well and scoring goals in pre-season, beating Swansea 2-1 and Udinese 3-2
• Hamburg have a minor injury crisis with top-scorer for the past two seasons Robert Glatzel out and Davie Selke a doubtful starter
• Both coaches want their teams to play ‘full throttle football’ so a cracking contest is expected

Spectacular start in prospect for 2.Bundesliga promotion chasers

The 2. Bundesliga is set to kick off in spectacular fashion on Friday night when relegated Cologne host a Hamburg side intent on gaining promotion after years of near misses.

The home side could have sold out RheinEnergieSTADION twice over due to the popularity of their former coach Steffen Baumgart, who will lead HSV into battle.

Unlike new Cologne boss Gerhard Struber, who led his team through an undefeated pre-season, Baumgart has selection problems for this clash with Hamburg’s top-scorer for the past two seasons Robert Glatzel ruled out and Davie Selke a doubtful starter.

Cologne have the firepower to pull out the win

Struber has fanned ther flames ahead of the game by claiming Hamburg will find it tough if his side are ‘on fire’ and they certainly have impressed when beating Swansea 2-1 and Udinese 3-2 in recent friendlies. Cologne will have midfield star Luca Waldschmidt fit to play after a minor injury and he is expected to support strikers Tim Lemperle and Damion Downs.

Downs, who has stepped up from the second team, has looked potent in pre-season. He scored a fine header against Udinese and has the pace and intelligence to be a threat on the counter attack.

Backing the home side to come through this with a win and both teams to score looks the best play given Cologne have played great front-foot football, but have also been picked off when they have been sloppy in the build-up phase.