Eintracht Frankfurt vs 1. FC Köln: Team news and predicted line-ups | OneFootball

Newly appointed 1. FC Köln interim head coach René Wagner is set for the task of pulling his team clear of the relegation zone when they meet Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday at the Deutsche Bank Park. 

Bayer Leverkusen’s 6-3 victory over Wolfsburg yesterday meant that Albert Riera’s men are now 11 points away from a top-six place. Even with a game in hand, Eintracht could miss out entirely on European competition next season as only 21 points remain up for grabs in this campaign. Die Adler suffered a 3-1 defeat in their last match as a brace from Paul Nebel gave Mainz all three points in a crucial contest that could have renewed hopes for Eintracht should the game had gone their way.

Riera will be without the services of goalkeeper Kauã Santos and centre-back Nnamdi Collins due to a knee and ankle injury respectively. Rasmus Kristensen will also remain sidelined for this fixture. Jonathan Burkardt and Arnaud Kalimuendo are set to lead the two-man attack up front. 

As for Köln, they are set to play for the first under new head coach Wagner, who is best known as a long-term assistant manager to Steffen Baumgart in the Bundesliga. Former coach Lukas Kwasniok’s tenure at the club ended with a 3-3 stalemate to Borussia Mönchengladbach before the international break. With just seven games to go, The Billy Goats are just two points clear of the relegation playoff spot, and five away from the dropzone. Köln will play against Eintracht at the same time as St. Pauli face Union Berlin, so results from both matches will influence the scenario below. 

Timo Hübers, Luca Kilian and Joël Schmied are set to miss the clash. Eric Martel is suspended for the game. Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson and Tom Krauß will feature in the centre of the park. 

Predicted line-ups for the match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Köln

Eintracht Frankfurt: Zetterer – Amenda, R. Koch, Theate – Doan, Larsson, Brown – M. Götze, Uzun – Kalimuendo, Burkardt.

Köln: Schwäbe – Sebulonsen, van den Berg, Özkacar, Lund – Krauß, Jóhannesson – Thielmann, Kamiński, S. El Mala – Ache.

GGFN | Trambak Bhattacherjee