Cologne vs Mainz Prediction 17 January 2026
π Whose streak will come to an end at the RheinEnergieStadion? KΓΆln have gone eight matches without a win and are sitting at an all-time low position in this Bundesliga season, while Mainz are experiencing a resurgence under Urs Fischer, remaining unbeaten in their last four fixtures. In the first round, the Billy Goats snatched a last-gasp victory at the Mewa Arena. Can the 05ers exact revenge in Cologne?
Head-to-Head
π Marius BΓΌlter's 90th-minute goal secured a victory for KΓΆln in the first-round match (1-0). Overall, encounters between these teams are rarely high-scoring affairs; only five goals have been scored in their last four head-to-head meetings.
Head-to-head statistics Cologne - Mainz
Cologne Team Overview
π On Wednesday, Lucas Kwasniok's team faced Bayern Munich for the second time this season, with the "Billy Goats" seeking revenge for their exit from the DFB-Pokal Round of 16 (1-4). In the 40th minute, Linton Maina intercepted the ball near his own penalty area and embarked on a stunning solo run to give KΓΆln the lead. However, the hosts couldn't maintain their advantage over the Bundesliga leaders, conceding an equalizer in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
π΄ In the second half, KΓΆln had their chances, but Bayern were more clinical, scoring twice more to seal a 3-1 victory by the 85th minute. This result extended KΓΆln's winless streak to eight matches, dropping them to 12th place with 17 points-their lowest position this season.
Match Results: Cologne
Mainz Team Overview
π΄ After nearly a year without a home win in the Bundesliga, Mainz finally tasted success in a crucial relegation battle against Heidenheim (2-1), climbing out of the automatic relegation zone. Goals from Silvan Widmer and Nadiem Amiri secured the "05ers" their second league victory. Mainz now sits in 16th place, level on points with St. Pauli and Heidenheim at 12 points, but with a superior goal difference.
βͺ In the Bundesliga, only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund boast a longer unbeaten streak than Mainz, who are undefeated in four consecutive matches. Under Urs Fischer, the team remains unbeaten across all competitions, with four draws and two wins. On Saturday, the visitors aim to build on this momentum and extend their streak at the "RheinEnergieStadion," securing three crucial points in their fight to stay in the top flight.
Match Results: Mainz
Latest news
Cologne
π Lukas Kwasniok after the match against Bayern: "You only have a chance against Bayern if you outwork them on the pitch. But they are so industrious that it's almost impossible. In the cup match, we managed to do this for long stretches, and today we again outperformed them in terms of effort in the first half. That's the only way because they surpass us in footballing terms. Our issue was inconsistency in ball recovery. Ultimately, Bayern decided the game with their individual brilliance."
β The "Billy Goats" face significant defensive setbacks: central defenders Luca Kilian, Timo HΓΌbers, JoΓ«l Schmid, and Dominique Heintz remain sidelined.
Mainz
π Urs Fischer on the upcoming match: "I watched Cologne's game against Bayern on Wednesday night and I anticipate a very challenging away fixture. They performed exceptionally well, especially in the first half, and made the match very evenly contested. The coach's influence is evident: the team is focused on ball possession and tactically versatile. With Ahe in attack, they have a clear target for long balls - we need to prepare and adapt accordingly."
π Mainz have signed Silas from Stuttgart. The 27-year-old forward inked a deal with the club on Tuesday, though both parties have chosen not to disclose the transfer details. The Congolese striker made 132 official appearances for Stuttgart, scoring 35 goals and providing 21 assists. Last season, he was on loan at Red Star Belgrade, where he netted seven times in 24 matches and also featured in 20 games for the DR Congo national team.
β In addition to Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Nicolas Verachnig will also miss Saturday's game - his injury is not serious, and he could return next week. Benedikt Hollerbach and Nelson Weiper are still recovering from illness. Maxim Leitsch and Philipp Mwene are partially training with the squad but are not yet considered match candidates. Robin Zentner and Anthony Caci are undergoing rehabilitation. Meanwhile, new signing Silas is training fully and will be included in the squad for the match in Cologne.
π¨ Referee and Yellow Cards
The match will be officiated by Felix Zwayer, who averages 4.3 yellow cards per game. The hosts average 1.6 yellow cards, while the visitors average 2.1. We're considering a bet on Mainz's individual total under 2.5 yellow cards-this market has hit in the last nine consecutive matches for the '05ers'.
β½ Goal Prediction
The average total goals in the last 30 head-to-head encounters between these teams is 2.47. KΓΆln are struggling with scoring; Kwasniok's side have failed to net more than 1.5 goals in five of their last six matches, as well as in five of their last six meetings with Mainz. As noted in the head-to-head block, only five goals have been scored in their last four clashes. Our pick is total under 3.5, which has come through in each of the last four encounters.
π© Corner Prediction
KΓΆln have averaged 3.9 corners per match over 17 rounds, while Mainz average 4.8. We are opting for '05ers' individual total under 5.5 corners-a bet that has won in their last six away games.
Editor's Prediction
Here's an intriguing fact: during his tenure at Union Berlin, Mainz's current coach Urs Fischer never lost to Cologne in ten official encounters. Away victories have been elusive for Mainz, as they haven't won on the road in six consecutive matches, while Cologne are winless at home in their last four games. We anticipate that the hosts' streak will continue, and this match will end in a draw-1-1. Our main bet is both teams to score (yes), as this has occurred in seven of Cologne's last eight home matches.
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Betting Tips: Cologne - Mainz
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