One of three Sunday afternoon matches on matchday eight of the Bundesliga sees FC Schalke 04 go up against 1. FC Köln in the Veltins-Arena.
Tired legs for Schalke?
Schalke played against Asteras Tripolis in UEFA Europa League in the week and won 4-0 after Franco Di Santo scored a flawless hat-trick in first half and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar went the extra mile in the 84th minute. Schalke 04 competed with a strong team, despite six rotations.
But those players, who played in the week, may not have enough strength to play on Sunday and coach Andre Breitenreiter will have to think twice about his line-up. Tripolis weren't the most difficult opponent, but nevertheless a match in the week will have taken its toll on a lot of players.
For Schalke, this match is hugely important because winning against Cologne means that Schalke would set a new club record - seven competitive match wins in a row.
Can Modeste continue his good form?
Seven Bundesliga matches and five goals - these are the stats of Frenchman, and new summer signing of effzeh, Anthony Modeste. The beefy and tall striker is in a great form and is very important for Cologne's attack.
With 10-12 goal difference and 11 points out of seven matches, the club is currently seventh in table. He is in top form, and his target is "to play for France national team in European championship 2016" and so he will be a tough opponent for Schalke's defenders.
On the last matchday, Cologne struggled against promoted team FC Ingolstadt and didn't manage more than a 1-1 draw at their own stadium.
"It will be everything but easy"
1. FC Köln's coach, Peter Stöger, said ion press conference that "this match will be a very difficult challenge for us". Cologne's goal for this match is to show once again that the team can compete with the league's biggest clubs. Furthermore, he is happy to have Kevin Vogt back in his squad and, apart from Milos Jojic, all other players are fit.
On the other hand, Andre Breitenreiter, Schalke 04's coach, confirmed that his players are in great form and want to give everything before the international break. "It's an appeal to set a new club record with seven competitive match wins in a row", he emphasised. With a wink, he said that his unbeaten run against 1. FC Köln "can stay that way."
Last season's meetings
1. FC Köln won in both games against Schalke in 2014-15. On the 15th matchday, Cologne, thanks to Anthony Ujah and Matthias Lehmann, won 1-2. Two matchdays before season end, both faced each other in the Rhein-Energie-Stadion and the Cologne won again. Marcel Risse scored the opener in the 34th minute and, one minute before final whistle, Yannick Gerhardt increased the lead to 2-0.
Prediction
Despite Schalke's match against Tripolis in the UEFA Europa League, the current third-placed side should have the edge. The Knappen are in great form and reaching the club record will push them on a lot. Schalke's attack, with Franco Di Santo, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and Leroy Sané, showed their class last week and will make it hard for 1. FC Köln's Dominique Heintz and Frederik Sörensen.