Cologne vs Borussia Mönchengladbach: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

Cologne are hopeful that star striker Anthony Modeste will be fit to play his Rhine derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (kick-off at 3:30 p.m.).

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Modeste only has Robert Lewandowski (14) and Erling Haaland (nine) ahead of him in the scorers’ standings this season, the 33-year-old Frenchman – third in the standings Torjägerkanone race behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lewandowski in 2016/17 – stepping back in time with the Billy Goats this quarter. The Cologne talisman, however, only featured for the first half of last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against compatriot Carnival Mainz, a blow to the pelvis seeing him replaced by Sebastian Andersson. Head coach Steffen Baumgart will give his star striker all the time he needs to prove his fitness, but he is definitely without goalkeeper Timo Horn. Marvin Schwäbe, who played in the DFB Cup victories over Carl Zeiss Jena and VfB Stuttgart, will be a substitute as Cologne look to extend their unbeaten circuit to seven matches.

Gladbach is three points better than Cologne in the middle of the table. Had they been able to replicate their home form on the road, the Foals would be much closer to the top four. Adi Hütter’s side have collected 14 points and have yet to taste defeat at Borussia-Park, but have won just four on their travels, winning one of six. Jonas Hofmann stood out with six goals in the team’s lead, while captain Lars Stindl returned to form with a hat-trick in assists in last weekend’s 4-0 win over Greuther Fürth background. Alassane Plea was also among the goals, and should retain his place in attack ahead of Marcus Thuram and Breel Embolo, injured. Dennis Zakaria is expected to continue in a central defensive role, while Nico Elvedi struggles to overcome an ankle injury suffered in the 1-1 draw at Mainz ahead of the November international break.

To concern: The best of the Rhine derby

Match statistics

• Modeste is the Billy Goats’ star man this season with eight league goals. He has scored five times in 10 appearances against Gladbach during his career.
• Ellyes Skhiri is Cologne’s next top scorer in 2021/22 with three.
• Fourteen of the home side’s 18 goals this season have come after half-time.
• Six goals is the same number Hofmann scored in the entire 2020/21 campaign.
• Gladbach has collected 14 points in his last seven games after only getting one win and one draw in his first five games.
• However, the Foals have collected just four of 18 possible points in six away games this season.

Likely queues

Cologne: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Kilian, Czichos, Hector (c) – Skhiri, Özcan – Kainz, Ljubicic, Uth – Modeste
Outside: T. Horn (knee)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Gladbach: Sommer (c) – Ginter, Zakaria, Bensebaini – Herrmann, Neuhaus, Kone, Scally – Hofmann, Stindl (c) – Advocacy
Outside: Doucoure (Achilles), Embolo (hamstrings), Jantschke (facial fracture)
Doubtful: Beyer (thigh), Elvedi (ankle), Kramer (thigh)
Coach: Adi Hütter