Stuttgart vs FC Koln prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-02-17 14:30.
Relegation zone occupants Stuttgart’s bleak and winless Bundesliga run stretched out to six games (D2, L4) with a 2-1 defeat at Freiburg, another example in which the southwest German side were the architects of their own downfall. They took the lead in their most recent match before throwing the points away by giving away two second-half penalties, and consequently by the end of the weekend, no Bundesliga team had won fewer games than them after scoring first this season (W2, D2, L2).
Midfielder Chris Führich defiantly declared they must “build on the positives and keep going,” but that appears to be becoming increasingly difficult. The relegation-threatened side are two points worse off than at this stage of their previous campaign, a poor season in which they avoided relegation on goal difference alone. A favourable recent H2H history in which they collected seven points from their last three top-flight home H2Hs (W2, D1) against Cologne could be the inspiration they need to end their rut.
However Cologne have transformed into a different outfit since the World Cup break and are on a Bundesliga unbeaten run (W2, D3) that is second only to Bayern Munich. Goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe has attributed this uptick to no longer juggling the demands of domestic and European football, as was the case in the first half of the season, and admitted a few tactical “amendments” had been made to shore up a defence that has conceded only two goals from their last five league outings – underlined by three successive clean sheets coming into this game.
Whilst things have improved for the midtable visitors, their away form does remain a problem. Only two sides coming into the round have waited longer for a win on the road (D3, L4), but perhaps this will be the occasion to put that right given Cologne have won more Bundesliga away games against Stuttgart than they have against any other side (14).
Players to watch: Stuttgart midfielder Atakan Karazor picked up his seventh Bundesliga yellow card last time out; only three players have more ahead of this round.For the visitors, Cologne’s Ellyes Skhiri had scored more Bundesliga goals (five) during 2023 than any other player.
Hot stat: Manager Bruno Labbadia could become the first Stuttgart boss to not win any of his first six league games.