Koln will host Schalke 04 in the seventh round of the German championship on 24 October, with the home side regarded as the more likely winner. The match is also expected to produce few goals, with the possibility that only one team finds the net or that neither does.
Koln have collected seven points from their opening six matches, recording two wins, one draw and three defeats. That record leaves the club 12th in the table, two points clear of the relegation play-off places.
Their latest outing ended in a 1-0 away defeat by Eintracht. Koln conceded the only goal in the 77th minute, despite registering nine shots, three of them on target, and taking three corners. It was their third defeat in their past five matches.
Schalke 04 are in 15th place with five points from six games and have lost their last two fixtures. They were beaten 2-1 away by Freiburg before suffering a 1-0 home defeat against Mainz.
The Gelsenkirchen club have now gone three league matches without a victory. Their four goals are the fewest in the German championship, while they are above Paderborn and Union Berlin only on goal difference and other tie-breaking statistics.
Form and head-to-head record
Bookmakers give Koln the stronger chance of securing three points. The hosts have drawn twice in their previous five matches, while Schalke 04 have won three of their past six games.
Koln have also won three of the last five meetings between the sides, and Schalke 04 have not recorded a defeat in that sequence. The most recent match between the clubs finished 1-0 to Koln.
The forecast for the game is a cautious one. Schalke 04 are expected to find it difficult in Koln, while neither side is considered likely to produce an open, high-scoring contest. The prediction is for goals from just one team, although a goalless draw is also considered possible.