Freiburg vs FC Koln prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2022-11-05 16:30.
Freiburg are enjoying a start to the season many of their fans would never have dreamt of, with their return of 24 points the best in the club’s top-flight history after 12 rounds. An unbeaten run through the UEFA Europa League group stage was completed with a 1-1 draw at Qarabağ on Thursday, meaning only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have beaten Christian Streich’s men this season.
Sensationally, Freiburg sit just two points adrift of the Bundesliga summit ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures, leaving fans dreaming of a first qualification for the Champions League in their history. There’s every chance this stellar run of form could continue, as despite the loss of star defender Nico Schlotterbeck during the summer, no side in the division has conceded fewer than their four home goals this season. This is also a fixture Streich’s men have enjoyed, losing just one top-flight H2H on their own turf this century (W7, D4).
Things aren’t quite so positive for Cologne, who crashed out of the Europa Conference League following a 2-2 draw with Nice. Getting back to the continental stage is now of the utmost importance to Steffen Baumgart’s men, who sit two points adrift of the European places heading into the weekend fixtures.
Travelling has not been his side’s strong suit of late either, losing both of their most recent Bundesliga trips and conceding five goals in each. Only struggling Bochum have conceded more goals on the road than the Billy Goats this season, a record that’s unlikely to inspire hope among the visiting supporters. Cologne did avoid defeat in both H2Hs last season though (W1, D1), en route to finishing just three points below Freiburg, suggesting the sides are quite evenly matched.
Players to watch: Freiburg frontman Michael Gregoritsch has netted eight times this season, but is yet to score against Cologne in nine personal H2Hs. Struggles for goals in this fixture is something he has in common with Cologne’s Florian Kainz, who will be looking to break a six-game duck against Freiburg here.
Hot stat: No side in the Bundesliga has kept as many clean sheets as Freiburg’s seven so far this season.