Freiburg vs Cologne Prediction 25 January 2026
🔊 The 19th round wraps up with an intriguing clash at the Europa-Park Stadion, where Freiburg are unbeaten in 12 consecutive matches and aim to take revenge against Köln for their first-round thrashing. However, the "Billy Goats" are not as straightforward as they seemed at the start of the season, especially considering their return from the 2. Bundesliga. Lukas Kwasniok's side sit mid-table, trailing the "Breisgau Brazilians" by just four points, so the gap could narrow in this game, particularly since Köln have shown they can score on the road. The visitors have been in high spirits all week following a long-awaited victory last weekend, while Freiburg are concurrently competing in the Europa League, limiting their recovery time.
Head-to-Head
📊 Freiburg suffered a crushing defeat in the first round away (1-4), yet they haven't lost to Köln at home since August 2019.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Freiburg Team Overview
⚪ After a defeat in Leipzig (0-2), Freiburg traveled to face Augsburg, where they managed to come back from 0-2 down in the 18th round and secure a draw against the underdogs. Following two early goals conceded at the start of the second half, Yuito Suzuki and Igor Matanović responded with strikes between the 60th and 62nd minutes. Julian Schuster's side currently sits eighth in the table, trailing the top six by five points. In their last six Bundesliga matches, Freiburg have recorded two wins, two draws, and two losses, indicating clear potential for growth.
🔴 Nevertheless, the "Brazilians of Breisgau" returned to Europa-Park on Thursday, where they defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv (1-0) in the 7th round of the Europa League group stage - with Matanović once again delivering the decisive goal. In Europe's second-tier club competition, Freiburg are in fourth place, remaining unbeaten, and ahead of the final round, they have excellent chances to advance directly to the Round of 16. This victory also highlighted Freiburg's formidable home form: they are unbeaten at Europa-Park for 12 consecutive matches across all competitions, with 9 wins and 3 draws.
Match Results: Freiburg
Cologne Team Overview
🐐 Substitute striker Ragnar Ache came off the bench after halftime to secure a long-awaited victory for Köln over Mainz (2-1), netting a brace. This comeback win snapped an eight-match winless streak. The "Billy Goats", who returned to the Bundesliga this season, sit in 10th place with 20 points-level with Gladbach but boasting a better goal difference. Lucas Kwasiok's squad trails eighth-placed Freiburg by four points. Closing this gap won't be easy, given the formidable home form of "the Brazilians of Breisgau". However, Köln's primary goal remains maintaining a comfortable buffer from the relegation and playoff zones, which currently stands at seven points.
🔴 Köln might have a physical edge: the team is only competing in the league and has been preparing for this game all week in a relaxed manner, whereas Freiburg have already played four matches in 12 days. In nine away games, Köln have suffered four defeats, drawn three times, and claimed two victories, though their last away success was on October 3rd when they defeated Hoffenheim (1-0). Notably, they have scored at least once in 7 out of 9 away matches, and considering Kwasiok's bold playing style, the visitors are likely to trouble the hosts' defense at least once.
Match Results: Cologne
Latest news
Freiburg
🎙️ Julian Schuster on Cologne: "Time and again, they show what they're capable of, displaying determination and excellent physical fitness. They're particularly dangerous in transition phases. It's crucial for us not to fall short in terms of energy. Thursday's victory should give us a boost for Sunday as well."
❌ Philipp Lienhart remains sidelined. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh is also not ready to participate in the match.
Cologne
🎙️ Lukas Kwasniok on the match against Freiburg: "After starting the season with losses to Augsburg and us, Freiburg have regained their strength. That team was incomparable to the current Freiburg. Moreover, it's a home game for them, and they haven't lost at home in twelve matches. We understand how challenging this task will be."
❌ Cologne face significant absences for Sunday's match. Timo Hübers, Dominik Heinz, Joel Schmid, Jamai Simpson-Pusey, and Luca Kilian-all central defenders-are out. Denis Huseinbasic and Said El-Mala remain doubtful due to illness.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
Bastian Dankert has been appointed as the main referee for this clash. In his previous match between Union and Mainz, he issued only two cautions. His average over the last 10 games stands at 2.7 yellow cards. Freiburg's average in the league sits at 1.6, while Cologne's is 1.7. We opt for over 2.5 yellow cards, a scenario that has occurred in 7 of the last 8 home matches.
⚽ Goal Prediction
We've previously highlighted the "Billy Goats'" struggles on the road. Considering this, along with Freiburg's formidable home form, we lean towards Cologne's individual total under 1.5 goals-a bet that has hit in 6 of their last 7 away games.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Freiburg averages 4.5 corners, while Cologne averages 4.2. Freiburg's individual total under 6.5 corners has been successful in 11 of their last 12 matches, making it our choice here.
Editor's Prediction
Freiburg are traditionally strong at home, yet the odds for their victory remain surprisingly high despite winning nine out of their last twelve unbeaten matches at home. This could be attributed to their packed schedule and mounting fatigue; even against Maccabi, who conceded the most goals in the Europa League (19), the "Breisgau Brazilians" managed to score only once, late in the game.
Cologne have had a full week to prepare, and over the first half of the season, the "Billy Goats" have shown they're not intimidated by any opponent. Therefore, we opt for the bet both teams to score (yes): at the Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg have scored and conceded in 12 of their last 13 matches. Nevertheless, considering the home strength of the "Breisgau Brazilians" and Cologne's significant defensive issues, we predict a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
Betting Tips: Freiburg - Cologne
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Comparison of Teams Stats
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