Preview: Arminia Bielefeld vs. FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups

Relegation-threatened Arminia Bielefeld will be looking to claim all three points and climb closer to safety when they host FC Koln in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to extend their unbeaten league run to five matches and could move into the European places with a victory at the Bielefelder Alm.

Match preview

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Arminia Bielefeld were unable to extend their unbeaten league run to three matches as they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by perennial champions Bayern Munich last weekend.

The Blues managed to hold their own until the deadlock was broken in the 71st minute by Leroy Sane, which proved to be the winning goal and condemned the visitors to their sixth defeat of the campaign.

Arminia remain in the relegation zone and are now four points adrift of safety, though Frank Kramer will not be too concerned as his side were only one point better off at this stage last season and were able to avoid the drop.

For the first time in the Bundesliga, Arminia have failed to win any of their opening seven home matches, conceding 13 goals in the process.

However, they can be confident of success on Saturday, as they face a Koln outfit who they have beaten in each of their last four encounters on home soil, including last season's narrow 1-0 win in September.

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FC Koln maintained their unbeaten home run in the league this campaign when they claimed an impressive 4-1 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend.

After a goalless first 45 minutes, the second half came to life with strikes from Dejan Ljubicic, Mark Uth, Ondrej Duda and Sebastian Andersson sealing all three points for the hosts.

That result moved the Billy Goats up to 10th in the Bundesliga standings, just two points behind the top six and nine points above Saturday's opponents Arminia Bielefeld in the bottom two.

While Koln's home form has been impressive, they are one of five German top-flight sides who are yet to win on the road, drawing and losing three games each so far this term.

Steffen Baumgart's men have also struggled defensively this campaign, as they are one of only two teams, along with basement club Greuther Furth, who are yet to keep a clean sheet in the Bundesliga.

Koln have conceded in each of their last four meetings against Arminia Bielefeld, but in three of those fixtures they won comfortably, scoring 11 goals in the process.

Team News

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Arminia forward Florian Kruger is doubtful due to illness, while defender Lennart Czyborra had his appendix removed two weeks ago and so is also a doubt for this contest.

Kramer is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup, though Jacob Barrett Laursen could be recalled at left-back at the expense of Andres Andrade.

Forwards Fabian Klos and Masaya Okugawa – who have scored six of Arminia's nine Bundesliga goals this season – will be relied upon once again in the final third, with Patrick Wimmer set to complete the three-man attack.

As for Koln, Jonas Hector and Jannes Horn are both suffering with hip injuries, while Tomas Ostrak (muscle) and Timo Horn (knee) are also on the sidelines.

Midfielder Niklas Hauptmann is doubtful due to illness, so Salih Ozcan, Ellyes Skhiri and Florian Kainz are all expected to keep their places in the starting lineup.

Striker Anthony Modeste, who has scored six goals in as many Bundesliga matches, is set to lead the line, and the Frenchman could be supported in attack by Mark Uth, who is hoping to return to the first XI this weekend.

Arminia Bielefeld possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Laursen; Schopf, Prietl, Vasiliadis; Wimmer, Klos, Okugawa

FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Schwabe; Schmitz, Kilian, Czichos, Ehizibue; Skhiri; Ozcan, Kainz; Duda; Uth, Modeste

We say: Arminia Bielefeld 2-2 FC Koln

An entertaining encounter with plenty of goalmouth action could be on the cards at the Bielefelder Alm, with both Arminia Bielefeld and Koln hoping to climb further up the Bundesliga standings.

However, with the two teams struggling for consistency, they may be forced to settle for just a point on Saturday.

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