RB Leipzig vs Cologne

Red Bull Arena is the venue as RB Leipzig and Cologne go head-to-head in an exciting Bundesliga fixture.

Leipzig failed to bounce back from a 5-3 German Super Cup fiasco against Bayern Munich as they squandered a narrow 1-0 lead away to Stuttgart on the opening Bundesliga weekend (1-1). However, things should be back to ‘normal’ here, as ‘Die Roten Bullen’ haven’t lost a single Bundesliga opener across six previous seasons (W5, D1). Moreover, Domenico Tedesco’s side thrashed Cologne 3-1 in this corresponding fixture last season, making it three wins from five all-time top-flight H2Hs at home (D1, L1). But if things go south, Leipzig could go winless in their first three competitive games of the season for the first time since earning Bundesliga promotion in 2016/17. Tedesco himself boasts a 100% unbeaten managerial record against Cologne (W3, D2), meaning Leipzig shouldn’t disappoint at short odds.

In the meantime, Cologne took full advantage of Dominick Drexler’s first-half expulsion to defeat Schalke 04 in the opening Bundesliga round 3-1 by attempting more shots (32) than any other side on Matchday 1. After bouncing back from an underwhelming DFB-Pokal first-round upset at the hands of Jahn Regensburg, the ‘Billy Goats’ will be looking to raise above a mixed spell of form across their final four Bundesliga trips of last season (W2, L2). However, Cologne’s poor away starts to a new top-flight campaign has seen them go down on their opening road trip across the last four seasons. If they buck that trend and record their first Bundesliga triumph at the Red Bull Arena since 2018, Cologne will start a new top-flight season with back-to-back victories for the first time since 2005/06.