Opponent Analysis: FC Köln
FC unbeaten in 2023 | Köln have covered the most distance of any side in the Bundesliga so far this season | They have also had the most crosses from open play
1. FC Köln vs. RB Leipzig
RBL are 17 games unbeaten in all competitions! Marco Rose’s side are also going into the game off the back of three straight wins on the road. Before this impressive run, Leipzig were winless away from home in the Bundesliga this season.
Next up for Leipzig is a trip to Cologne to face Steffen Baumgart’s Billy Goats (Saturday, 4th February, 2023). Here is everything you need to know about FC Köln ahead of the game:
Stats and facts on 1. FC Köln
Form
Effzeh are unbeaten in 2023 after picking up five points from their three games.
Their last 3 matches:
- Bundesliga - Matchday 18: 0-0 vs. FC Schalke 04 (A)
- Bundesliga - Matchday 17: 1-1 vs. FC Bayern Munich (A) (goals: Skhiri / Kimmich)
- Bundesliga - Matchday 16: 7-1 vs. SV Werder Bremen (H) (goals: Tigges (x2), Skhiri (x2) , Maina, Huseinbasic, Eigentor Friedl / Füllkrug)
Köln are currently sat twelfth in the Bundesliga after picking up 22 points from their 18 games (W5, D7, L6). They are currently six points clear of VfL Bochum in the relegation play-off spot.
Squad
Key players
Jonas Hector has been at FC Köln for over twelve years. The 32-year-old is not only a cult hero at Effzeh due to his loyalty to the club, he has also captained the side for several seasons.
The veteran is a key player for Köln and he can be utilised as either a left-back or as a central midfielder. Hector has so far made 331 appearances for the club in all competitions (212 Bundesliga, 86 2. Bundesliga) and he is characterised by his composure on the ball. He can also whip pinpoint crosses into the opposition penalty area and he is a real danger from set-pieces.
Florian Kainz is also a set-piece expert. The Austrian is blessed with a superb right foot and he is noted for his accuracy from free kicks and corners. Kainz, who recently extended his contract at FC, is also a great dribbler of the ball. He likes to cut in from the left-hand-side and try his luck from distance. The 30-year-old also has the most goal involvements for FC Köln this season with five goals and five assists.
Ellyes Skhiri is also a player in impressive form. The Tunisia international has scored three goals in 2023 already, including a brace against Bremen and a goal against Bayern. He also represented his country at the World Cup in Qatar. Skhiri is renowned for his powerful engine and he regularly covers the most distance of any Köln player. He is composed on the ball and often sets his side’s tempo and rhythm.
Most goal involvements (FC Köln, all competitions):
- Florian Kainz (5 goals / 5 assists)
- Linton Maina (2/6)
- Steffen Tigges (5/1)
- Ellyes Skhiri (3/1)
- Denis Huseinbasic (3/1)
Most goal involvements (RB Leipzig, all competitions):
- Christopher Nkunku (17/4)
- Dominik Szoboszlai (4/13)
- André Silva (9/8)
- Timo Werner (11/4)
- Dani Olmo (4/6)
Comings and goings in the transfer market
Köln didn’t have the busiest transfer window but they did manage to strengthen their forward line with Bundesliga stalwart, Davie Selke. The 28-year-old, who made the move from Hertha BSC in January, has scored 35 goals and picked up 20 assists in 205 Bundesliga appearances.
Ondrej Duda was loaned to Serie A side Hellas Verona for the remainder of the 2022/23 season. The forward played 28 minutes of the 2-2 draw at the Red Bull Arena back in August.
Absentees
1. FC Köln will have to do without the follow players on Saturday:
Florian Dietz (cruciate ligament), Sebastian Andersson (knee), Dimitrios Limnios (training deficit), Mark Uth (pubis), Kristian Pedersen (calf) and Luca Kilian (muscle tear).
RBL's squad update can be found here: Squad update
Returnees
David Selke spent two years at RB Leipzig before his time at Werder Bremen, Hertha and FC Köln. The striker made 53 appearances for RBL and he was a part of the side that gained promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2015/16 season. He scored 14 goals and picked up four assists during his time in Saxony.
Benno Schmitz, who Köln fans refer to as “Cologne’s Cafu”, also spent two years at RB Leipzig. The right-back made 19 appearances from 2016-2018.
The third Effzeh player with a history at our club is Eric Martel. The midfielder came through the Leipzig youth academy and his only first team appearance came in the second round of the 2020/21 DFB-Pokal against FC Augsburg.
Head coach
Things have looked up for Köln since Steffen Baumgart took the reins at the start of the 2021/22 season. Köln survived via the relegation play-offs the season before under Friedhelm Funkel.
The coach is known for his distinctive dress sense and his passion on the touchline. He brought European football to Köln at the end of his first season, when his side qualified for the UEFA Conference League after finishing seventh last term. Although the Billy Goats were knocked out in the group stage, their European qualification created a real sense of excitement around the city.
Their participation in the Conference League meant that Köln somewhat struggled in the first half of the season, but they have shown real form since the turn of the year. They are now sat in twelfth spot, six clear of the 16th.
Baumgart is also known for his sensational run to the Bundesliga with SC Paderborn. He took the club from the 3. Liga to the top flight between 2017 and 2019. His sides are aggressive, they press high up the pitch and look to break quickly when they win the ball.
FC Köln seem to feed off Baumgart’s passion on the sidelines. His side have covered 2124.4 kilometers so far this season, the most of any side in the Bundesliga. They also top the charts in terms of crosses from open play (228) and they look to take advantage of the height of Steffen Tigges (1.93m) and David Selke (1.95m).
RBL's recent matches:
Matchday 15
Saturday 11/12/22, 02.30 p.m.
Bremen
0 : 1
RB Leipzig
Matchday 16
Friday 01/20/23, 07.30 p.m.
RB Leipzig
0 : 1
Bayern
Matchday 17
Tuesday 01/24/23, 05.30 p.m.
Schalke 04
0 : 4
RB Leipzig
Matchday 18
Friday 01/27/23, 07.30 p.m.
RB Leipzig
1 : 0
Stuttgart
Round of 16
Wednesday 02/01/23, 05.00 p.m.
RB Leipzig
2 : 0
Hoffenheim
Head-to-head:
There have been eleven meetings between the two sides in the Bundesliga thus far. RB have an impressive record against FC, with five wins, four draws and two defeats to their name in this fixture.
Recent encounters:
- 13th August 2022 | Bundesliga: RB Leipzig 2-2 FC Köln
- 11th February 2022 | Bundesliga: RB Leipzig 3-1 FC Köln
- 18th September 2021 | Bundesliga: FC Köln 1-1 RB Leipzig
- 20th April 2021 | Bundesliga: FC Köln 2-1 RB Leipzig
