Cologne vs Borussia Dortmund

Mid-table Cologne and title-bidding Borussia Dortmund will lock horns in a handsomely-looking Bundesliga showdown at the RheinEnergieStadion.

It’s been a disappointing Bundesliga start for last season’s surprise package Cologne. A poor return of two wins from their opening seven league matches (D4, L1) saw them welcome the international break in mid-table lethargy. Scoring has been a genuine problem for the ‘Billy Goats’ of late as they’ve netted under 1.5 goals in four of their previous five Bundesliga outings. Nothing may change this weekend, considering Steffen Baumgart’s men have bagged just one goal in their two last season’s Bundesliga H2Hs against Dortmund (D1, L1). Adding to Baumgart’s list of worries, his lads have gone winless in back-to-back home league fixtures (D1, L1) for the first time under his stewardship, failing to get on the scoresheet on each occasion.

In the meantime, Borussia Dortmund pulled off a morale-boosting 1-0 home triumph over fellow Ruhr rivals Schalke 04 last time out to stay within a two-point deficit of table-toppers Union Berlin. Edin Terzic’s men have racked up five wins from their first seven Bundesliga games this season (L2), but their attacking showings have flattered to deceive. Indeed, over the past 30 years, ‘Die Borussen’ have only netted fewer goals after seven games in 2009/10 (6) than this term (9). Moreover, after losing back-to-back competitive fixtures on hostile turf in the build-up to this encounter, Dortmund could suffer three consecutive defeats on hostile turf for only the second time since Jurgen Klopp’s departure in 2015. Yet after going unbeaten in their last five top-flight visits to Cologne (W2, D3), they should feel optimistic about avoiding that feat.