Koln vs Schalke 04 preview - Stoger calls for final push

Cologne coach Peter Stoger has called for one final effort from his team to secure their Bundesliga status with a win over Schalke this Sunday.

One win is still required for Cologne to be safe and Stoger wants his side to clinch that this weekend rather than waiting any longer and hoping that the teams below them fail to close the gap.

"It's all about avoiding relegation," said the Austrian coach at a press conference. "And we want to do that all by ourselves.

"The lads are not letting themselves feel too comfortable and they are not too worked up either - I'd say they're focused and relaxed about their work."

They face a Schalke side who also need the points to ensure their place in Europe next season.

The Royal Blues will therefore not be gifting Cologne, who are unbeaten at home in 2015, anything on Sunday.

"We've not done anything yet," said their coach Roberto Di Matteo. "The morale is high after our win [last weekend], but we've still got to work hard if we are to get into the Europa League.

"I think it's going to be dramatic right to the very end."

The Royal Blues will be without Klaas Jan Huntelaar, whose two goals helped them turn the tables on Stuttgart a week ago but who picked up a yellow card in that game to earn a suspension.

Jefferson Farfan is an injury doubt but Julian Draxler is fit to start.

Cologne coach Peter Stoger will have to decide whether Anthony Ujah will play amid fears of a fans' backlash to his announced move to Werder Bremen next season.

The forward did not do his hopes any good by posting a picture on the internet showing him smiling in front of Bremen's stadium, although he has promised to give his utmost to the Cologne cause until the end of the season.