Cologne vs Leipzig Prediction 8 February 2026
🔊 Can the "Billy Goats" avenge their first-round defeat against the "Red Bulls"? Sunday's continuation of the 21st Bundesliga matchday kicks off with a clash at the RheinEnergieStadion, where Cologne face Leipzig. The hosts have won their last two home games, while Leipzig have faltered in 2026, securing just two victories in five rounds. This matchup isn't straightforward - let's dive into the prediction.
Head-to-Head
📊 In the fourth round, Leipzig ended Cologne's three-match unbeaten streak with a 3-1 victory at the Red Bull Arena. Goals for the hosts came from Uedraogo, Romulo, and Raum, while Jan Thielmann scored for the visitors. Since their promotion to the Bundesliga, Leipzig have never lost to newly promoted teams, winning 33 matches and drawing only five times. This marks the longest unbeaten run against promoted sides in Bundesliga history.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Cologne Team Overview
🐐 Köln have kicked off the second half of the season on a strong note, securing two wins in their first three matches. This mirrors their performance in the first half when the "Billy Goats" also notched two victories in their opening three games. For the first time this season, Lukas Kwasniok's side have won back-to-back home matches, defeating Mainz (2-1) and Wolfsburg (1-0) last weekend, with Linton Maina finding the net. Although it's only their second win in the last 11 league matches, they sit 10th in the standings, maintaining a five-point cushion above the relegation zone with 14 rounds left to play.
Match Results: Cologne
Leipzig Team Overview
🐂 Leipzig dropped points for the second consecutive week and for the third time in five matches in 2026, surrendering their lead against relegation battlers Mainz (1-2). Konrad Harder opened the scoring in the 40th minute, but the visitors equalized from the penalty spot before halftime. Early in the second half, the "Red Bulls" conceded a second goal and failed to recover. This result, combined with another victory from an in-form Stuttgart, pushed Leipzig out of the top four to fifth place, with Bayer Leverkusen breathing down their necks, just one point behind and with a game in hand. However, even with a defeat, the "Red Bulls" will not fall out of the European competition spots, as they hold a nine-point cushion over seventh-placed Freiburg.
Match Results: Leipzig
Latest news
Cologne
🎙️ Lukas Kwasniok after the match against Wolfsburg: "It was a game of two very different halves. From Wolfsburg's perspective, they certainly deserved the draw, but for us, this was a crucial home victory. In the second half, we struggled to maintain the balance between possession and winning the second balls. Wolfsburg gained the upper hand there, so we had to shake things up. However, there's no shame in that. I'm very pleased we were able to reward ourselves with three points today."
🏃➡️ Lukas Kwasniok, in his inaugural year at Cologne, emphasizes a style of play that demands high intensity and a readiness to run. Among all Bundesliga teams, Cologne currently ranks third in total distance covered, with a tally of 2,425.3 kilometers.
📝 Cologne have extended the contract of their talented academy graduate Finn Schenten. The 18-year-old forward, who made his Bundesliga debut against Heidenheim earlier this year, has signed a deal until 2030. Finn Schenten has been with Cologne since the age of eight and has progressed through every level of the academy. Last season, he was part of the team that won the German U19 championship, scoring nine goals over the campaign.
❌ Timo Hübers, Luca Kilian, Joel Schmidt, and Jamai Simpson-Pusey are sidelined with injuries.
Leipzig
🎙️ Ole Werner after the defeat: "For 60 minutes, we were too imprecise, with too many turnovers and lacked sharp changes in pace. We also fell short in ball recovery. We rarely managed to pose serious problems for Mainz. There was only one segment in the first half where we had a good opportunity, but it was far too little. We can't directly influence some of these episodes. For me, it's not a penalty, and neither player thought so. It's an obvious indicator."
📝 Leipzig and Xaver Schlager will part ways in the summer. The midfielder has decided not to renew his contract, which expires on June 30, 2026. The Austrian international joined Leipzig from Wolfsburg in 2022. Since then, he has made 97 appearances for the "Red Bulls," scoring four goals and providing nine assists.
✍️ Leipzig have secured the loan of 21-year-old Bryan Gruda from Brighton until the end of the season. The attacking player will wear the number ten shirt. The Germany U21 international arrives in Leipzig with experience from 39 Premier League matches, having scored two goals and provided five assists. Before joining Brighton, Gruda played 30 matches in the Bundesliga for Mainz, scoring four goals and delivering three assists.
❌ In the "Red Bulls" camp, Castello Lukeba, Assan Ouedraogo, Viggo Gebel, and Suleman Sani will miss the game due to injuries.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
Frank Willenborg has been appointed as the main referee for the match. On average, over his last 10 games, he has shown players 3.4 yellow cards per match. Cologne average 1.7 cards per game, while Leipzig average 1.3. We opt for over 2.5 yellow cards, which has hit in 6 of the last 7 home games for Cologne in the Bundesliga.
⚽ Goal Predictions
Head-to-head encounters between these clubs typically result in high-scoring affairs. Cologne have scored in 10 of their last 11 home matches, and Leipzig have found the net in nine consecutive games. Considering the attacking prowess of both teams, we suggest betting on both teams to score (yes).
🚩 Corner Predictions
The average number of corners earned per game by the "Billy Goats" is 4.2, while the "Red Bulls" average 5.4. We choose under 10.5 corners, which has occurred in 7 of Cologne's last 8 rounds and in 8 of Leipzig's last 9 matches.
Editorial Prediction
Both clubs are adept at maintaining possession and boast talented attacking players, yet they struggle defensively. Thus, we predict over 2.5 goals, a bet that has hit in 5 of the last 6 head-to-head encounters. Ole Werner's team needs three points to stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot, while Kwasniok's side must secure points at home to maintain their cushion above the relegation zone and ensure Bundesliga survival next season. Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising if the match at the RheinEnergieStadion ends in a high-scoring draw - 2-2.
Betting Tips: Cologne - Leipzig
in last 7 games against Leipzig (Bundesliga).in 14 of last 15 games.in 13 of last 14 games (Bundesliga).in 10 of last 11 home games.in 9 of last 10 home games (Bundesliga).in 20 of last 21 games.in 18 of last 19 games (Bundesliga).in 9 of last 10 away games.in 8 of last 9 away games (Bundesliga).in last 9 Cologne games (Bundesliga).in last 5 Cologne home games (Bundesliga).in 8 of last 9 Leipzig away games (Bundesliga).in 6 of last 7 Leipzig games (Bundesliga).in last 5 Leipzig away games.
in 9 of last 10 Frank Willenborg games.in 6 of last 7 Frank Willenborg games (in the Bundesliga).in 6 of last 7 games against Leipzig (Bundesliga).
Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
