7M - Preview: FC Köln vs VfL Wolfsburg – Prediction, Team Updates, Probable XIs

Neither host FC Köln nor VfL Wolfsburg face an immediate Bundesliga relegation threat, but a defeat for either side at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Friday could see them slip back towards the league’s bottom half. The Billy Goats sit 10th in the table with 20 points, coming off a 2-1 loss to SC Freiburg on January 25, and hold a one-point edge over the 12th-placed Wolves – who are four positions and four points clear of the relegation playoff spot.

Match Preview
Köln got off to a promising start against Freiburg, capitalising on Max Rosenfelder’s own goal in the 10th minute, only to concede an equaliser just 60 seconds later and trail 2-1 at the interval. The hosts enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, racking up 14 points from their opening nine Bundesliga outings, but their form has since nosedived: they’ve picked up a mere six points from the subsequent 10 fixtures, a run that features just one win and six defeats.

Defensive frailties have plagued Köln of late, with the side failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 top-flight matches and conceding at least two goals in four of their past six league games. Their attack has found some rhythm, though, netting six times across their most recent four outings. Manager Lukas Kwasniok is acutely aware that three points on Friday are vital, as his side is set to take on four of the division’s top five teams in their next six Bundesliga clashes. Köln claimed a 2-1 home win over Mainz 05 on January 17, a result that snapped a run of four winless games at the RheinEnergieSTADION which included three defeats.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, suffered a 3-1 loss to Mainz 05 on January 24, a result that came despite facing just 0.62 expected goals (xG) from open play; the Wolves instead conceded twice from corner kicks and once from the penalty spot. That marked the third time in five Bundesliga matches that Wolfsburg have let in three or more goals, though their attack has remained sharp, finding the net eight times across that same stretch.

Head coach Daniel Bauer was not at the helm when his side played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Köln back in September 2025 – a clash where Wolfsburg took a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute and a late 3-2 advantage in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time, only to be pegged back late on. The Wolves have struggled for consistency recently, picking up just one win in their last five Bundesliga games, with three losses and one draw in that sequence. Their away form has also been a major sore spot: Wolfsburg have won just once in their past six away league contests, with three defeats and two draws to show for their efforts on the road.

Team News
FC Köln
The Billy Goats have only two confirmed absentees for the clash. Centre-back Timo Hubers has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while fellow central defender Luca Kilian (also sidelined with a knee issue) is not expected to return until May. With key defensive injuries limiting his options, manager Lukas Kwasniok is set to field a three-man backline made up of Sebastian Sebulonsen, Eric Martel and Rav van den Berg. Up front, Said El Mala has turned in excellent performances this season and is set to lead the line, supported by Ragnar Ache and Marius Bulter.

VfL Wolfsburg
The Wolves have three key players sidelined for the trip to Cologne. Midfielder Bence Dardai and left-back Joakim Maehle are both unavailable, while forward Jonas Wind is out with a thigh problem. Aaron Zehnter is poised to fill in at left-back, with Maximilian Arnold and Yannick Gerhardt partnering up in a defensive midfield double pivot. Dzenan Pejcinovic is set to start as the lone centre-forward, with Patrick Wimmer, Christian Eriksen and Mohamed El Amine Amoura providing attacking support in behind.

Probable Starting XIs
FC Köln
Schwabe; Sebulonsen, Martel, Van den Berg; Maina, Kaminski, Krauss, Castro-Montes; Bulter, Ache, El Mala
VfL Wolfsburg
Grabara; Kumbedi, Vavro, Jenz, Zehnter; Arnold, Gerhardt; Wimmer, Eriksen, Amoura; Pejcinovic

Prediction
Our Verdict: FC Köln 1-1 VfL Wolfsburg

Köln’s patchy home form and Wolfsburg’s underwhelming away record set the stage for a tightly contested affair, and both sides’ defensive vulnerabilities are sure to come to the fore. Neither team can lay claim to a solid rearguard, and we expect both to carve out plenty of goalscoring chances in the final third. Ultimately, though, neither side will be able to secure all three points, with the contest finishing in a hard-fought share of the spoils.