The Matchday 23 Bundesliga fixture between Koln and Hoffenheim will take place on 21 February at the RheinEnergieStadion. Koln vs Hoffenheim: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Koln
Lukas Kwasniok's side lost 3:1 away to Stuttgart in the previous round. That was the team's 11th defeat of the current league campaign (six wins, five draws), with only three opponents losing more often. At the same time, Koln have scored in seven consecutive Bundesliga matches, matching their longest scoring run of the season. The club have 31 goals in total, which is one of the two best attacking records among the sides in the bottom half of the standings, where Koln sit in 12th place.
- Both teams scored in six of the team's last seven league matches.
- On home soil, the club have failed to win five of their last seven Bundesliga games (one draw, four defeats).
- In five of their last six home matches in this competition, Koln have not scored more than once.
Potential Koln Lineup (3-4-3)*
Marvin Schwabe – Sebastian Sebulonsen, Cenk Ozkacar, Kristoffer Lunn Hansen – Pascal Schmidt, Jan Thielmann, Tom Krauss, Eric Martel – Marius Bulter, Jakub Kaminski, Ragnar Ache.
Defenders Luca-Jannis Kilian and Timo Hubers will miss out through injury.
Hoffenheim
The Sinsheim club recovered quickly from their heavy defeat to Bayern Munich and, in the last round, thrashed Freiburg 3:0 themselves. That victory was the sixth in their last seven league matches for Christian Ilzer's men, and in half of those games Hoffenheim kept a clean sheet. The club have the fourth-best defence in the competition, while their 47 goals scored have lifted the Sinsheim side into second place for goals. In the overall table, the team are third.
- Hoffenheim have scored at least twice in five of their last seven Bundesliga matches.
- Away from home, the club are unbeaten in 11 of their last 13 league games (six wins, five draws).
- The Sinsheim side have conceded in five of their last seven away matches in this competition.
Potential Hoffenheim Lineup (4-5-1)*
Oliver Baumann – Albian Hajdari, Ozan Kabak, Robin Granach, Vladimir Coufal – Bazoumana Toure, Leon Avdullahu, Grischa Promel, Andrej Kramaric, Wouter Burger – Fisnik Asllani.
Defender Koki Matida, as well as forwards Tim Lemperle, Adam Hlozek and Cole Campbell, will miss out through injury.
Referee
Robert Schroder (Germany)
Matches – 8 (Bundesliga, 2024/25 - 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 25;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.1;
Red cards shown – 2;
Fouls per match on average – 24;
Penalties – 38%.
Koln vs Hoffenheim: Match Prediction
The Sinsheim side showed they can respond after beating Freiburg last time out, with their opponents pushing for European football. We are confident the team will pick up points in the upcoming match as well. Their next opponents are pursuing far less ambitious objectives, and Hoffenheim's away results have been solid. In this league campaign, Christian Ilzer's side have only lost on the road to the Munich club and the Dortmund club. What is more, the club managed to score against Bayern Munich, once again demonstrating an ability to take their chances. In 2026, the Sinsheim side have scored 18 goals in seven Bundesliga matches.
Koln rarely manage a positive result even at home. The team have failed to win five of their last seven home league matches (one draw, four defeats), and those victories came against fellow sides from the lower half of the standings. Defensive issues often let the club down. This season, Lukas Kwasniok's men have recorded just three clean sheets, and in five of Koln's last seven Bundesliga games they have conceded at least twice.
Prediction: Hoffenheim, double chance + Over 1.5 goals
* For each team, the starting XI listed is from their previous match in this competition.