Record against 1. FC Köln: 97th Bundesliga meeting
Overall: 106 matches. 38 wins, 27 draws, 41 defeats. 171:163 goal difference.
In the Bundesliga: 96 matches. 33 wins, 27 draws, 36 defeats. 157:148 goal difference.
Looking back: Four-year run
VfB are unbeaten in their last five matches against 1. FC Köln (three wins, two draws). The last time that the lads from Cannstatt tasted defeat against the team from the Rhine was four years ago (a 1-0 loss in the 2021/22 season).
Leweling the provider
Jamie Leweling has recorded an assist in each of his last three Bundesliga appearances, with the last player to do that for the club being Chris Führich in September/October 2023. An assist in four consecutive games would equal a club record since detailed statistics were first produced in the 2004/2005 season, with Borna Sosa (2021), Vedad Ibisevic (2012) and Martin Harnik (2011) the only ones to achieve that feat.
‘Medo’ sharp in front of goal
In the 2-0 win over St. Pauli, Ermedin Demirovic managed a goal and an assist in the same Bundesliga game for the first time in VfB colours, having previously done that particular double in March 2024 for Augsburg. In the 2020/21 Bundesliga season, he was twice as good in one particular match for Freiburg, scoring two and setting up another pair of goals against none other than Sunday’s opponents Köln. That is his equal best performance in the top flight, alongside the four goal involvements he had for FCA against Darmstadt in the 2023/24 season.
What the coaches said: Both teams on notice
Sebastian Hoeneß: “Köln have made an impressive start to the campaign with seven points from four games. It’s a good haul, particularly as they’ve already played three away games and only one at home. They’re playing with courage and confidence.”
FC Köln head coach Lukas Kwasniok: ““It's a huge advantage to play in front of 50,000 football-crazy fans. It's a positive feeling for all of us and we want to show everyone want we can do. We're happy to finally be back at home.”
Squad news:
There is plenty of news on the personnel front. Luca Jaquez returned to action on Thursday evening after recovering from a broken nose, but Finn Jeltsch is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a minor adductor injury against Celta Vigo. Hoeneß will also be without Deniz Undav and Silas in Cologne.
Luca Kilian, Rav van den Berg and Marius Bülter are all out injured for the hosts.
Attendance: 5,000 heading to Cologne
VfB will be cheered on by around 5,000 fans at the RheinEnergieSTADION.
