Date and Time: 21st March 2022 @12:00 AM IST
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion
FC Koln vs Borussia Dortmund Where to watch?
India: Sony Sports Network
FC Koln vs Borussia Dortmund Team News:
FC Koln:
Schindler, the match-winner from the previous weekend, will be unavailable for Koln on Sunday owing to personal reasons, while captain Jonas Hector, as well as the crucial Florian Kainz, will be absent due to COVID-19 obligations. Mark Uth seems to be on his way back from the sickness that caused him to miss out on the derby triumph, but Dejan Ljubicic and Tim Lemperle are the latest players to get ill with the virus, and their status as doubts has been raised as a result. Uth is a possibility to fill in for Kainz, while Jannes Horn is expected to take over at full-back in place of the injured Hector.
Borussia Dortmund:
As for Dortmund, Erling Braut Haaland, who has made two substitute appearances against Bielefeld and Mainz this season, might be in a position to make his first start since January on Sunday. The striker has been working his way back from injury with two replacement appearances against Bielefeld and Mainz. Raphael Guerreiro and Mats Hummels are both expected to return from their COVID-19 absences, but captain Marco Reus is still a question mark owing to a different sickness, while Mahmoud Dahoud is suspended and will not be able to compete.
Steffen Tigges, Thomas Meunier, Mateu Morey and Marcel Schmelzer are all ruled out for the season. Manuel Akanji, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Youssoufa Moukoko will be on the sidelines in the coming weeks. Rose is therefore left with limited alternatives for rotation, but the likely returns of Guerreiro and Hummels, as well as the restoration to health of Haaland, will offer a much-needed boost to the visitors’ chances of victory.
FC Koln vs Borussia Dortmund Probable Playing XI:
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Schwabe; Schmitz, Kilian, Hubers, J Horn; Skhiri, Ozcan; Thielmann, Duda, Uth; Modeste
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Passlack, Can, Hummels, Guerreiro; Brandt, Witsel, Bellingham; Hazard, Haaland, Malen
FC Koln vs Borussia Dortmund Betting Predictions:
Match Betting: FC Koln win (3.50)
Draw (3.80)
Borussia Dortmund win (2.00)
The One-Liner Explainer:
These are the kinds of games in which Dortmund often falters. But after managing to grind out victory in their past two outings despite a dearth of defensive alternatives. We believe they will have the energy and incentive to do it once again on Sunday. The hosts are a difficult team to play against and will be well-drilled, so a close game seems to be on the cards, with a single goal that may be enough to win it for either side once again.
