FC Koln vs Borussia Monchengladbach
With eight games to play things are heating up in Germany where reigning champions Bayern Munich are homing in on yet another Bundesliga title.
The race for a top four place is fierce; with four clubs chasing two available Champions League spots (Bayern and BVB have practically reserved the top two) and then there is the small matter of the relegation battle.
If you want to know about real pressure speak to the managers in the bottom seven.
And that’s where we find Bundesliga: Koln vs Monchengladbach, a 14th versus 12th clash, with a cushion of only one point above the relegation play-off spot in the case of Koln. Die Fohlen are a further three points clear; so the hosts need all three on Saturday to reel them in.
The run up to the Rhein Derby has rarely been so tense.
Lukas Kwasniok’s Koln were ahead of Eugen Polanski’s Monchengladbach as recently as three weeks ago but the tables have turned and that makes Saturday’s battle at the RheinEnergieStadion a classic high stakes six-pointer.
Talking Points
Fine margins are costing the Billy Goats
Last May FC Koln stormed back to the Bundesliga after a year in the second tier, finishing top and in great style; and they have made a decent fist of surviving on their return to the top flight. But the Billy Goats have failed to pick up a win over the past six weeks with only two points to show for their efforts, but it could have been a few more, had they fallen on the right side of some tight results in tough games.
Last week Koln picked up a useful point in a 1-1 draw away to Hamburg, with a goal from Said El Mala. But with ten shots to their hosts five, more possession and more shots on target Koln did enough to leave Hamburg with another two points. The previous week Koln went toe to toe with second-placed Borussia Dortmund but eventually lost 2-1 after playing half the game with ten men after defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey had been sent off in first half injury time. Kwasniok’s men drew 2-2 at home to TSG Hoffenheim but lost by the odd goal in three to Red Bull Leizpig.
They have endured a brutal run of fixtures, which also included an away loss to Eintracht Frankfurt and now Koln will hope to pick up points as things ease off a little over the next eight rounds. The team’s star quality comes from 19-year-old winger El Mala who has scored nine goals and made three assists, while Polish striker Jakub Kaminski, on loan from Wolfsburg, has scored six goals and made two assists.
The FC Koln vs Monchengladbach betting odds say Kwasniok’s men are in for another tight affair and they will be desperately keen to come out on the right side of this Rhein Derby.
The Foals have found a spring in their step
While the Billy Goats are fighting hard without much reward, conversely Polanski’s team has picked up six points from three games to clamber quickly up the table to 12th. Home wins against FC Union Berlin and St Pauli were sandwiched by a 4-1 loss away to Bayern Munich; but I guess the Monchengladbach fans will be happy to let that one go to the Bavarians with six vital points either side.
There is still work for the Foals to do but they have a striker in form, which always helps. The goals have come from Haris Tabakovic, on loan from TSG Hoffenheim; the 31-year-old Bosnian hit man has scored 11, and he gets a lot of support from French winger Franck Honorat who has made five assists.
They come into this game in good spirits and Monchengladbach know that another win on Saturday would be a huge step towards survival.
History
The head-to-head Koln vs Monchengladbach results tell a story of a turbulent relationship in recent years. The Foals won this Rhein derby 3-1 when they met earlier in the campaign but they lost by the same score line when they last visited Koln in 2023. in 2022 Koln were slapped 5-2 at Borussia Park and also won 3-1 in Monchengladbach, while winning their home game in 2021 by a thumping 4-1 score-line.
Overall, the Foals have won 15 to Koln’s ten of the last 31 encounters; while at the RheinEnergieStadion the score stands at six wins each.
Right now, with just two draws and four defeats from the last six games the hosts are in desperate need of a win, while Monchengladbach have been picking up points, with two wins, one draw and three losses in that time.
Betting Tip
With Koln priced at 2.20 and Monchengladbach at 3.05 the hosts will start as favourites but I fear for Koln and can see another frustrating ‘nearly’ afternoon.
And for a Correct Score line, A 1-1 draw is the most likely outcome at SBOTOP odds of 6.35 with a 2-2 draw at 11.50.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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