Sandhausen vs Cologne Predictions

Relegation from the Bundesliga can often see a club resigned to losing its best players, with clubs cherry-picking bargains only too happy to jump from the sinking ship, but that hasn’t wholly been the case at FC Cologne. Germany international Jonas Hector and goalkeeping talent Timo Horn spent most of the summer spurning advances from some of Europe’s more prestigious clubs. With the pair commiting their future to the club, for one season at least, the Billy Goats should continue to prove themselves a force to be reckoned with. Cologne started life back in the German second tier (Bundesliga 2) by claiming ten points over four outings (W3 D1), but last weekend’s manic 5-3 defeat at home to Paderborn threw a spanner in the works and ended their unbeaten run.

Forunately for them, hosts Sandhausen are at the other end of the scale, yet to win any of their opening five matches (D2 L3). After their 11th place finish last season, where they recorded both the weakest offensive record but strongest defensive record in the division, this comes as a bit of a shock. Sandhausen have sold none of the players that helped them maintain such a strong back line and have even added to their attack through a couple of free transfers. Coach Kenan Kocak’s only excuse could be that they’ve had a reasonably tough start to the season, facing Hamburg (also relegated from the Bundesliga last season), Bochum (6th last season), and Union Berlin (8th last season) already. However, with both of their goals so far coming from defender Philipp Klingmann, you have to question their prospects of survival if things don’t change soon.

Looking ahead to Cologne’s third away match of the new Bundesliga 2 season, there are a couple of key factors that makes us feel that this match will be worth tuning in for. Firstly, the visitors’ new boss, former-Holstein Kiel manager Markus Anfang, has a very attacking philosophy. His former side may have failed to win promotion to the Bundesliga through the play-offs at the end of last season, but they did end the 17/18 campaign with the best goal difference in the league (+27 with 71 goals scored). His entertaining brand of football saw 76% of Kiel’s matches end with over 2.5 goals scored, while 65% of them ended with both teams scoring. Cologne’s performances under his leadership have shown that same fiery and aggressive style – something that cost them in last weekend’s match against Paderborn – and both teams have scored in each of the Billy Goats last five competitive outings.

There’s no reason to expect that Anfang will deviate from that same offensive approach on Friday against the Bundesliga 2’s 6th worst defense, and the Billy Goats absolutely have the goalscoring talent to back up that tactical line. Cologne’s Simon Terodde is the Cameron Jerome of the Bundesliga, too good for the second tier, but not really good enough for the top flight. He’s scored a massive ELEVEN goals over his last three competitive outings via a four goal haul in a 9-1 win over DFC Dynamo in the cup and a hat-trick and two braces over his last three league outings. He should 100% prove a threat again here against a Sandhausen side that have lost five of their last eight Bundesliga 2 outings (D3 L5). Our prediction: 3-1 Cologne.