1. FC Köln vs FC Schalke 04 — Tips & Analysis

FC Schalke 04 +0.5: Köln have no recognised centre forward to pick. Dallinga is out with a cruciate ligament injury that will keep him out until about June 2027, and Ache has a thigh problem. Skhiri, Hübers and van den Berg are missing too. That is a lot of first team quality to replace at once. Köln have won 4, tied 6 and lost 6 of their last 16 games. They let in 2 goals a game, and they have won by 2 or more in only 1 of their last 16. This is not a side that steamrolls anyone right now. Schalke are no better going forward. They have created very little across their last three games and lost 0-1 at home to Mainz last time out. They are missing five players, including Wöber, Ljubicic, Schallenberg, Karaman and Sylla. They score just over a goal a game and let in about the same. Two sides short of a finisher usually serve up an edgy, even game, and 7 of the last 20 meetings ended level. A 1-1 looks the likeliest finish, with the opener answered and nobody finding a second. The honest warning is the history. Köln have won 10 of the last 20 meetings, and those games averaged almost 3 goals. If a makeshift Köln striker clicks, this gets away from us. We still want Schalke in this one.