Preview: Jahn Regensburg vs FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups

Jahn Regensburg will begin their DFB-Pokal campaign on Sunday when they take on visitors FC Koln at Jahnstadion Regensburg.

The home side are in the third division of German football and second last after two matches, while FC Koln are back in the top flight after winning the 2. Bundesliga in 2024-25.

Match preview

Jahn Regensburg finished 18th in the second tier last term and were relegated to the 3. Bundesliga, returning to the third tier after just one season.

Boss Michael Wimmer oversaw a 4-0 defeat against Duisburg on August 10, and that left his side in 19th place with just one point.

The hosts managed to reach the round of 16 in the 2024-25 edition of the DFB-Pokal, beating Bundesliga side VfL Bochum in the first round but losing against the tournament's winners Stuttgart 3-0 in the third in December.

Die Jahnelf have conceded five goals in their first two games of the campaign, and they also conceded in each of their prior five competitive fixtures, failing to win any and losing twice.

Regensburg's defeat against Duisburg was their only outing at Jahnstadion Regensburg this season, and to their credit they were unbeaten in their final seven at home in 2024-25, winning three times.

FC Koln returned to the Bundesliga at the first time of asking, finishing first with 61 points from 34 matches, two points more than second-placed Hamburger SV.

The top-flight visitors were not the most productive in front of goal in 2024-25 considering they netted just 53 times in the league, a tally that made them the 10th best offensive side in the division.

Manager Lukas Kwasniok's team reached the quarter-finals of the competition last season, beating SV Sandhausen, Holstein Kiel and Hertha BSC, before losing 3-2 against Bayer Leverkusen in February.

The Billy Goats faced Regensburg twice in the 2. Bundesliga in 2024-25, winning 1-0 at Jahnstadion Regensburg in December 2024, and drawing 1-1 at home in May.

FC Koln are undefeated in their five friendlies - achieving victory four times - and they ended last term having won three, drawn one and lost one of their final five fixtures on the road.

Jahn Regensburg form (all competitions):

FC Koln friendly form:

Team News

Jahn Regensburg goalkeeper Felix Gebhardt will hope that defenders Leopold Wurm, Felix Strauss and Nick Seidel can limit the number of shots he faces on the weekend.

Andreas Geipl and Christian Kuhlwetter could be trusted to marshal the middle of the pitch, while striker Dejan Galjen is likely to be asked to lead the line.

FC Koln have to contend with the absence of centre-back Luca Kilian, though Joel Schmied, Timo Hubers and Kristoffer Lund are available.

Isak Bergmann Johannesson and Tom Krauss were paired together in a double pivot in a friendly against Atalanta on August 9, and they could be selected once again.

Attackers Jan Thielmann and Jakub Kaminski may be asked to support centre-forward Marius Bulter.

Jahn Regensburg possible starting lineup:

Gebhardt; Wurm, Strauss, Seidel; Stolze, Geipl, Kuhlwetter, Kisilowski; Beckhoff, Galjen, Herme

FC Koln possible starting lineup:

Schwabe; Schmied, Hubers, Lund; Sebulonsen, Johannesson, Krauss, Martel; Thielmann, Kaminski; Bulter

We say: Jahn Regensburg 1-2 FC Koln

Jahn Regensburg have started their campaign in poor fashion, and they could encounter difficulties against FC Koln, who have enjoyed a strong pre-season.

The hosts' defensive vulnerability may cost them the chance of victory, and the visitors should be expected to advance into the second round.

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