German Bundesliga - Cologne vs. Union Berlin - Preview & Prediction

By Valdis Pans

Cologne Draw In Augsburg

Cologne remained on the lookout to secure their first victory after the Bundesliga restart following a 1-1 draw against Augsburg away at WWK Arena on Sunday. Just like in their reverse fixture back in November, Cologne goalie Timo Horn saved an early penalty before both sides netted a goal each for a 1-1 tie, with Anthony Modeste netting for the Billy Goats this time around, banking his third snipe in his last four Bundesliga appearances. Cologne have failed to win any of their past six contests (D3 L3) and currently sit 12th in the league with a W10 D5 L15 record, seven points above the drop-zone.

Colombian striker Jhon Cordoba leads the Billy Goats with 12 tallies, having banked five strikes in his last eight appearances. Timo Horn, meanwhile, is 8th amongst Bundesliga goalies with most saves, having turned away 81 shots in 30 outings so far this year. He has collected six clean sheets and allows a goal every 47 minutes of play. Cologne have buried the 7th highest number of goals this season (47), while taking the 10th highest quantity of shots per game (13). The team is 12th in ball possession (47.6%) and 13th in passing accuracy (76.5%).

Union Berlin Tie Versus Schalke

Union Berlin remained without a win for the seventh consecutive contest (D3 L4) after settling for a 1-1 tie with Schalke 04 at Stadion an der Alten Forsterei on Sunday. The Iron Ones outshot the visitors 12-4, but managed to find the back of the net on just a single occasion, with Robert Andrich netting his first snipe of the season just 11 minutes into the game before Schalke 04 tied the proceedings 17 minutes later. The Berliners have managed to collect just two points in their past three outings (D2 L1) and sit just four points clear of the relegation play-off place with a W9 D5 L16 showing.

With 12 strikes converted so far this season, Swedish striker Sebastian Andersson leads Union Berlin in goals. Goalie Rafal Gikiewicz, meanwhile, is 2nd only to Borussia Monchengladbach’s Yann Sommer in saves, having stopped 105 shots in 30 appearances this year. He has recorded six clean sheets and gives up a goal every 51 minutes on average. The Iron Ones have netted the 4th lowest quantity of goals so far during the current campaign (35), while taking the 4th lowest number of shots per game (12.1). The team is 2nd from the bottom in ball possession (43.8%) and 2nd worst in passing accuracy (70.3%).

Prediction

While playing under head coach Urs Fischer, Union Berlin have gone unbeaten against Cologne for three straight games (W2 D1). But don’t expect an easy contest for the Iron Ones on Saturday! Union Berlin have gone on their worst run of results thus far this season, failing to post a single victory on the past seven attempts (D3 L4). They have also registered the worst away showing in the Bundesliga (W3 D2 L10) and will be meeting a side, which has lost just two of its past 10 league home games (W5 D3 L2). To top that off, the Billy Goats have also gone unbeaten against Union Berlin for three straight domestic fixtures (W2 D1), outscoring the Berliners 7-1 along the way, keeping a clean sheet in two occasions.

Best bets:

Cologne to win (+105)

Correct score: 2-0 to Cologne (+935)

Jhon Cordoba to score anytime (+140)