Cologne vs RB Leipzig Predictions

• Leipzig are unbeaten in their last nine Bundesliga fixtures.
• Cologne are winless in their last four games in the league.
• Three of Leipzig’s last five matches have featured under 2.5 goals.

RB Leipzig making themselves tough to beat

RB Leipzig are still in the hunt for Champions League football in the Bundesliga and next up is a trip to the Rhein Energie Stadion to face Cologne.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side have drawn with Freiburg and Hertha Berlin either side of a 5-0 dismantling of Mainz since the Bundesliga restart and last time out gained a point on Borussia Dortmund, who lost to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker.

Leipzig perhaps need to be more prolific in the final third but they are nonetheless on a run of nine matches unbeaten in the league, having faced Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach as part of that streak. 

They have been particularly impressive on the road this term, losing only two of their 14 away assignments and conceding a league-low 13 goals on their travels.

Cologne have exceeded expectations

Qualification for the Champions League coupled with a good run in the European competition should be enough to satisfy the Leipzig faithful while Cologne fans should also be happy with their team’s performances this campaign.

The Billy Goats went on a superb run of eight wins in 11 matches from mid-December up to the league’s hiatus but have endured a frustrating return to action, drawing two and losing one of their last three matches.

They failed to see of lowly Mainz and Fortuna Dusseldorf outfits at home and have now failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous five matches.

Even a Leipzig side who have had issues putting sides to the sword should be able to breach the Cologne rearguard, especially with 24-goal Timo Werner in their ranks.

Defensive solidity key to Leipzig’s game

But it is at the back where Leipzig have been the strongest of late, keeping four successive clean sheets on the road away to Bayern, Schalke, Wolfsburg and Mainz and that enhances appeal about a low-scoring contest.

Cologne have kept five clean sheets in 14 Bundesliga home games this term – one of the best tallies in the division – and, although they look unlikely to come away with anything from the game, they should at least limit the damage.

The reverse fixture finished 4-1 in favour of Leipzig and backing a win for the Red Bulls looks the way to go but with goals having dried up of late, Leipzig to win and under 3.5 goals looks the best bet.

Leipzig have won by a two-goal margin on four occasions this season and the best correct score prediction in Cologne could be 2-0 in favour of the visitors.