1. FC Köln take on Fortuna Düsseldorf in the Rheinderby on Saturday afternoon at the Mekur-Spiel-Arena. Kick-off is at 13:00 CEST and here is all you need to know.
Form check
Fortuna Düsseldorf: Daniel Thioune’s side are yet to lose in the 2. Bundesliga this season. Four wins from five, a solitary draw against Karlsruher SC and just one goal conceded sees them top the pile on goal difference ahead of KSC. Impressive wins against Hannover 96 and Hertha BSC means that the hosts are in confident form ahead of the Derby.
1. FC Köln: After convincing wins over Eintracht Braunschweig and FC Schalke 04, Gerhard Struber and his FC team produced a similar attacking performance against 1. FC Magdeburg. This time, however, without reward. Despite over 30 shots and an expected goals value of almost 5, Magdeburg managed to run out 2:1 winners. Struber and his side are out to find the back of the next this weekend.
The managers have had their say
Daniel Thioune: “The strongest team in league are coming to us tomorrow, in 1. FC Köln. They have been very dominant so far, only the results haven’t matched. We are facing a really, really good 2. Bundesliga team. They have a way of playing that we haven’t faced yet. I’m looking forward to it, we’ve been defensively strong in the last few games. Now we’re playing against the most dangerous attack in the league.”
Gerhard Struber: “Fortuna are a team that are very stable and make good decisions during the game. They are strong on the counter and at set-pieces. They’ve gone far in their development. Despite that, there will be opportunities for us to make our mark on the game. We’re buzzing for the game.”
Injury update
Fortuna Düsseldorf: Jamil Siebert, Deznan Pecjcinovic and Marcel Sobottka will all miss the game due to their respective injury problems. Siebert should return soon for Fortuna but not in time for Saturday’s game.
1. FC Köln: Linton Maina and Dejan Ljubicic are doubts for the game due to back problems and illness, respectively. Max Finkgräfe could return to the squad after his lengthy injury spell, while Luca Kilian, Florian Kainz and Mark Uth continue to work on their comebacks.
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