FC Koln vs Augsburg prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2022-10-15 13:30.
Sitting in the top-half of the Bundesliga table after nine rounds (W3, D4, L2) is a start that most Cologne fans would probably have taken at the beginning of the season. However, a run of three straight competitive defeats with eight goals conceded ahead of this clash raises doubts over the Billy Goats’ ability to consistently perform in the Bundesliga and Europe simultaneously.
A 2-0 UEFA Europa Conference League defeat in Belgrade last time out was disappointing, but it was at least an improvement on Cologne’s humiliating 5-2 defeat in the prior Rhine derby, prompting Cologne’s often-animated boss Steffen Baumgart to emotionlessly insist that they “beat themselves” in these games. A terrific 3-2 comeback victory against Dortmund in Cologne’s last home league game should inspire confidence, but they will again have to battle hard to end a near 11-year wait for a home win over Augsburg.
Continuing their unbeaten streak in Cologne (W4, D3) will be no mean feat for Augsburg who have recorded a joint league-low 96 shots ahead of this round. They have made their limited chances count though as Augsburg head to the RheinEnergieStadion on the back of their longest Bundesliga unbeaten run (W3, D1) since a six-game streak in 2019, although that sequence did include a 1-1 draw here.
Augsburg’s ten points from the last four rounds is a league-high ahead of matchday ten and it has contributed to what is now their best ever nine-game start to a top-flight season (W4, D1, L4). It took four more games than that last season to match their current 13 point haul, which perhaps suggests that Augsburg may prove their pre-season relegation candidate status wrong earlier than usual.
Players to watch: With Cologne’s top-two contributing players unavailable (Kainz & Ljubičić), Denis Huseinbašić may have to step up again after contributing to their only two goals across the last five hours of play (G1, A1). For Augsburg, Robert Gumny had a hand in their last two Bundesliga goals (G1, A1) and he actually scored his very first Augsburg goal against Cologne back in 2021.
Hot stat: Ahead of the round, no Bundesliga side has been level at the break more often than Augsburg (HT: W1, D6, L2).