FC Koln vs Stuttgart prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-09-29 13:30.
After collecting just one point from their opening five matches of this Bundesliga edition (D1, L4), the relegation alarm bells may already be ringing around Cologne’s RheinEnergieStadion as they continue to deal with the fallout of injuries and a transfer ban. Despite taking the lead midway through the first half against Werder Bremen last round, the Billy Goats again capitulated to ultimately lose 2-1, leaving them a staggering eight points worse off than at this stage last season.
For most sides, a return to home comforts would come as a welcome boost. But with two losses from two outings at this venue in 2023/24, Steffen Baumgart’s side seem slightly rudderless here of late. In fact, they’ve managed just one win from their last nine home league appearances since late February (D2, L6), losing each of the last three despite getting on the scoresheet each time!
A visit from high-flying Stuttgart may not get the fans excited about ending that rut, for the away side entered matchday six in third spot in the early Bundesliga standings. After triumphing in four of the first five rounds (L1), the Swabians will have new-found European qualification aspirations this campaign, a push which has been heavily aided by their free-scoring approach to date.
Courtesy of their 17 goals netted across their five league matches, Stuttgart are the joint second-highest scorers so far behind Bayern Munich, but fewer than 25% of those strikes have come on the road. Sebastian Hoeneß’ side have already shown their best and worst on the road this season, putting behind them a 5-1 loss to top-four Leipzig by handing a similar treatment out to Mainz (3-1). It was their fourth win from their last five competitive away games, suggesting they’re improving sharply away from home.
Players to watch: Cologne’s Davie Selke struck the opener in his side’s last match whilst also scoring in both of his last two home H2Hs. Last round, Sehrou Guirassy became just the second player in history to accumulate ten Bundesliga goals within the first five rounds (joining Robert Lewandowski), courtesy of registering all four of Stuttgart’s away goals this league season!
Hot stat: Just one of the last six H2Hs saw both teams score.