Bundesliga: Can Koln Smell Success at Home?

Koln vs Bayern Munich

The Billy Goats remain in search for their first victory in the 2020/21 season, and they have the defending Bundesliga champions on their schedule in the next matchday.

Koln face Bayern Munich in a top to bottom clash over at the RheinEnergieStadion this Saturday, and one can argue that this will be a pivotal fixture for two different reasons.

It is crucial for the home team simply because they are desperate to get out of the predicament that they are in. With three losses out of five, Markus Gisdol’s men are currently 18^th at the table with only two points.

On the other hand for Bayern Munich, this presents an opportunity for them to go on top of the table as they try to balance their commitments both here and in the ongoing Champions League tournament. They are currently second behind RB Leipzig with 12 points.

Given the stature of these two clubs, it is widely expected that the visitors will cruise to a victory this weekend. But can the Billy Goats draw out a positive result at home this time around?

As we wait for the next matchday, allow SBOTOP to guide you with our latest match preview.

Talking Points

Bayern Munich might rest some of their key players

Managing through their grueling schedule is quite a chore for team manager Hansi Flick, which is why it’s a good thing that he has enough quality in his roster.

The Bavarian giants recently came from a victory against Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League group stage as Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich scored one goal apiece.

Hansi Flick expects Bayern Munich to create Bundesliga 2020 highlights against Koln — Hansi Flick during Bayern Munich’s Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow

With the game already in the bag, Hansi Flick opted to sit out Thomas Muller and Leon Goretzka after halftime and he fielded in a different look.

Rest, however, was not the primary reason as to why they were subbed out in the said match and instead it was a precaution.

Bild insider Heiko Niedderer reported that Muller and Goretzka were nursing minor injuries which made sense for Flick to take them out right away.

Moreover, Thomas Muller and Leon Goretzka are not expected to play against Koln this Saturday, which would give the likes of Javi Martinez and Douglas Costa chances to provide us some Bundesliga 2020 highlights.

Left-back Alphonso Davies will be sidelined indefinitely due to an ankle injury he sustained against Eintracht Frankfurt, which should give the likes of Lucas Hernandez and David Alaba to shoulder more of the load.

The good news, however, is that Serge Gnabry got to play again after contracting the coronavirus few days ago. Meanwhile, Leroy Sane might get the nod since he is close to being 100-per cent fit.

Can Koln secure their first victory of the season?

It’s been two weeks since Koln were desperate for a victory and it remained that way despite some encouraging performances.

After losses against Hoffenheim, Arminia, and Borussia Monchengladbach, Koln somehow managed to hold Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart to 1-1 draws in their last two fixtures.

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The Billy Goats would often find themselves down early in the first half, and that should be changed if they’ll have a chance against the defending champions.

Summer acquisition Sebastian Andersson leads the way with two goals so far, but that number has to go up considering they are third to the last in scoring with only five goals.

Team manager Markus Gisdol would have to be more imaginative in their attacking scheme in order to draw out more production from their front men.

History

The overall head-to-head matchup between Koln and Bayern Munich is one-sided as expected.

In their last 31 matches together, Bayern Munich won in 19 – including five straight for the past three seasons – while Koln won only thrice along with nine draws.

Last season, the defending champions thrashed the Billy Goats twice with an aggregate tally of 8-1.

Koln’s last positive result against Bayern Munich was a 1-1 draw in October 2016 when centre-forward Anthony Modeste came in to save the day for the Billy Goats.

Betting Tip

	Koln vs Bayern Munich	1X2 Bayern Munich @ 1.17
	October 31, 22:30

Our latest Bundesliga 2020 odds has a Bayern Munich victory written all over it, and I would definitely agree.

Their opponents in Koln are priced way lower at 14.00 and a draw is at 6.80, and the visitors are at 1.17 to win in the 1×2 market.

In the Asian Handicap readings, Bayern Munich are expected to get the virtual headstart by at least two goals with -2.00 @ 1.77 looking like the best bet over there.

Goals are also to be expected in this game, with Over 2.50 @ 1.76 or Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.96 likely since Bayern Munich are going to pour it on.

Even with some of their key players looking to sit this one out, the Bavarian giants’ overall quality and depth remain superior over the Billy Goats and I don’t see them having trouble putting them away this week.