Record against Köln
Overall: 102 games, 36 wins, 25 draws, 41 defeats, 165:162 goal difference
In the Bundesliga: 92 games, 31 wins, 25 draws, 36 defeats, 151:147 goal difference
Looking back
The last meeting between the two sides on the final day of last season in Stuttgart was one to remember, with captain Wataru Endo scoring a 92nd-minute winner as VfB won 2-1 to ensure their Bundesliga survival. Köln triumphed 1-0 in the reverse fixture.
Unbeaten
The Billy Goats are one of six teams who are still unbeaten after three matchdays in the Bundesliga. The 3-1 opening win at home to Schalke 04 was followed by draws at RB Leipzig (2-2) and Eintracht Frankfurt (1-1).
In European action
Köln qualified for the group stage of the Europa Conference League on Thursday courtesy of a 3-0 win in the second leg against Fehervar, having lost 2-1 in the first leg.
Trigger-happy
Köln and VfB are among the teams who have had the most attempts on goal so far this term. The Rhineland club have registered 49 shots on the opponents’ goal, putting them third in the Bundesliga, while VfB are seventh with 43. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men have also recorded the most shots on the counter (six).
Putting in the hard yards
Köln have run 117.6 kilometres in 270 minutes of Bundesliga action thus far, the most in the German top flight. VfB are in fourth place with 115.2 kilometres.