Stuttgart vs FC Koln prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-02-23 14:30.
Despite being reduced to ten men just before half-time, Stuttgart’s dream campaign kept marching on in the last round as they downed Bundesliga strugglers Darmstadt 2-1, extending their points return to 46 after 22 rounds. They finished the gameweek in third, four points off second but with a healthy six-point cushion to fifth, which is poignant given that only once has such a lead at this stage of a Bundesliga season not been enough to secure a top-four finish (Borussia Mönchengladbach with +7 in 2018/19).
The home side already hold the Bundesliga’s longest active winning streak (four matches) and will hope their scintillating attack can be the catalyst to extending that to five when they host Cologne. After all, Sebastian Hoeneß’s men have already scored 51 goals this season, which was a return bettered only by Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the round.
Such a potent attack will be a source of envy for the away side who carry the unwanted title of being the division’s poorest scorers with a league-low of 15 goals so far. A 1-0 defeat at home to Werder Bremen last week – their first loss in four league outings (W1, D2) – was the tenth time they’d failed to score this season and it left them rooted in 16th, six points from safety.
Despite the daunting task that awaits, Cologne know they likely can’t afford another defeat or they risk being cut adrift. Their H2H record isn’t a source of hope either, with just one of the past ten Bundesliga meetings going their way (D2, L7). What could inspire some belief though, is two battling 1-1 draws from each of their last two away league trips against decent mid-table opponents (Wolfsburg and then Hoffenheim).
Players to watch: Having arrived at the end of the winter transfer window on loan from Brighton, Stuttgart midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud could be ready to explode into form after netting his first goal in the success over Darmstadt. Trying to help keep him quiet will be Cologne defender Eric Martel who comes into the round with only two Bundesliga players having made more defensive blocks (41).
Hot stat: Stuttgart boast a 100% league record against the current bottom three (W5), scoring 2+ goals in each win.