RB Leipzig vs FC Koln prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2022-08-12 13:30.
After securing UEFA Champions League football and winning the DFB-Pokal last term, RB Leipzig would have come into this season full of confidence, but losing to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup followed by a 1-1 draw against Stuttgart in their Bundesliga opener means things havenât gone to plan early on. Manager Domenico Tedesco now has to try to avoid some unwanted history, as Leipzig have never started a season by failing to win any of their first three competitive matches since gaining Bundesliga status.
They will hope to draw on the power of the Red Bull Arena faithful to prevent that from happening, seeing as theyâve never lost their first home game of a Bundesliga season (W5, D1). Tedesco himself brings an unbeaten managerial record against opponents Cologne (W3, D2) into this game, meaning anything but a home win – at short odds – would be a huge surprise.
Cologne travel to the DFB-Pokal champions after their first game of the season saw them exit the very same competition at the first time of asking, losing on penalties to second-tier club Jahn Regensburg. The Billy Goats did bounce back in their league opener last time out though, proving a point when beating newly promoted Schalke 3-1, despite having to drop last seasonâs top-scorer Anthony Modeste hours before kick-off after news of his imminent departure to Borussia Dortmund made headlines, a transfer that didnât please coach Steffen Baumgart, saying it âmade him sickâ.
The first away assignment of a Bundesliga campaign hasnât been kind to Cologne recently, as theyâve experienced defeat in each of the last four seasons. Theyâve avoided defeat in three of their last four H2Hs with Leipzig at any stadium though (W1, D2), and having scored in four of their five top-flight visits to the Red Bull Arena (W1, D1, L3), this Cologne side shouldnât be taken lightly especially after an improved season in 2021/22 (seventh).
Players to watch: Leipzigâs Christopher Nkunku scored the last time these two teams met, which was one of his four goal contributions in five H2Hs (G2, A2). Dejan LjubiÄiÄ has two goals in two starts this season, contributing to four of his five goals for Cologne coming after half-time.
Hot stat: In home Bundesliga matches last season, Leipzig scored 30 of their 43 goals in the second-half – the most of any team.