Preview: Hoffenheim vs FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides within reach of the Bundesliga's top four are set to clash on Friday when Hoffenheim welcome promoted club FC Koln to PreZero Arena.

Die Kraichgauer will be looking for their first win in three games this week, while the Billy Goats are aiming to get back on track after consecutive defeats.

Match preview

Christian Ilzer's Hoffenheim barely survived in the German top flight last season, finishing in 15th place and just three points above FC Heidenheim, who competed in the relegation playoff.

This time around, Die Kraichgauer currently find themselves on the cusp of the Bundesliga's European places ahead of matchday six, and they will be dreaming of a more stable campaign ahead than in 2024-25.

At the weekend, Ilzer's side moved past their painful 4-1 battering by Bayern Munich by earning a point against Freiburg in a 1-1 draw, and while the manager would have preferred to win the game, he will be pleased to see his team respond so quickly with a goal of their own via Fisnik Asllani after Lukas Kubler opened the scoring three minutes in.

That stalemate has Hoffenheim 10th in the table, where their tally of seven points puts them level with a pack of five teams chasing UEFA competition, including Union Berlin, St. Pauli, Freiburg and their opponents, who are all a mere two points shy of the Champions League spots.

While it would be fair to say that the Billy Goats have been in mixed form so far this season given that they have alternated between losing and avoiding defeat, they will be keen to maintain the general upward trajectory that they have opened their campaign with.

However, the hosts will need to defy their dire record at PreZero Arena in order to do so, considering that they have lost both of their home games in 2025-26, as well as their final two last term.

Meanwhile, Lukas Kwasniok's Koln started strongly in the top flight after winning the 2.Bundesliga title in 2024-25, but a difficult September has seen their progress stagnate.

The Billy Goats kicked off the campaign with three competitive wins on the bounce, including a 4-1 thrashing of Freiburg on August 31, a run of results that has the promoted club looking upwards, beyond their goal of mere survival.

However, Kwasniok's men have failed to win any of their last three matches ahead of this clash, and are set to enter the fray off the back of consecutive defeats.

On Sunday, Koln followed up their 3-1 beating at the hands of RB Leipzig by dropping another three points with a 2-1 loss on their own turf against Stuttgart, a particularly frustrating result considering that they had taken the lead through Jakub Kaminski with just eight minutes on the clock.

Those disappointments have left the 2.Bundesliga champions seventh in the top flight with seven points, one behind sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen, two short of fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and level with their opponents.

Hoping to bounce back on Friday, the visitors will take heart from their impressive travelling record that features six victories, two draws and only one defeat from their last nine away games, even if that stretch began in the second tier.

Should the Billy Goats return to winning ways, then they could climb into the Champions League places in a best-case scenario, though a third straight loss could be demoralising.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

Hoffenheim form (all competitions):

FC Koln Bundesliga form:

FC Koln form (all competitions):

Team News

Hoffenheim are missing a number of players in the backline this week, including right-back Valentin Gendrey due to a broken ankle, left-back Hennes Behrens, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, and centre-back Koki Machida, who is out with a knee injury.

Centre-half Albian Hajdari is also a doubt due to illness, and if he is unavailable, then Ilzer could line up with Robin Hranac and Arthur Chaves at the heart of his defence, flanked by full-backs Vladimir Coufal and Bernardo.

Elsewhere, versatile forward Adam Hlozek is recovering from a broken ankle that is expected to keep him out until December, and Andrej Kramaric should start behind Fisnik Asllani, ahead of a double pivot of Leon Avdullahu and Umut Tohumcu if midfielder Wouter Burger is not ready to start.

As for Koln, they will be without left-sided forward Marius Bulter as he works his way back from a hamstring injury he picked up against Leipzig, so Linton Maina is likely to continue on that side, supporting a strike partnership of Ragnar Ache and Jan Thielmann up top.

At the opposite end of the pitch, centre-back Luca Kilian is anticipated to miss the entire season with a cruciate ligament injury, though his fellow central defender Rav van den Berg should be back in action later this month.

In their absence, Joel Schmied, Eric Martel and Timo Hubers are set to start in a three-man backline, protecting Marvin Schwabe between the sticks.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Coufal, Hranac, Chaves, Bernardo; Avdullahu, Tohumcu; Prass, Kramaric, Toure; Asllani

FC Koln possible starting lineup:

Schwabe; Schmied, Martel, Hubers; Sebulonsen, Johannesson, Krauss, Kaminski, Maina; Thielmann, Ache

We say: Hoffenheim 1-2 FC Koln

Hoffenheim's home record has been particularly poor, and they are unlikely to win at the very least this week.

Koln have not set the world alight recently, but they have only lost once on the road since April, and they could build on their commendable start back in the Bundesliga with another three points.

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