FC Koln’s return to the elite has been going even better than planned, with the team being one of only five unbeaten sides after three rounds. The plan is to extend that streak again but RB Leipzig will have something to say about it.
After missing out on European football as a whole last season, RB Leipzig made a huge change by appointing Werder Bremen’s Ole Werner as the new boss. And he got the worst possible experience in his first official game, losing 6-0 to Bayern Munich. But if we close our eyes to this result, RB have looked much better since then, beating Heidenheim and Mainz without conceding a single goal.
The next task ahead for the Red Bulls is the newly-promoted Koln, who managed to come back up after only one season. And the manner of their return has been spectacular. The Billy Goats are not just unbeaten after three rounds, but they have been the second highest-scoring side after Bayern Munich. FC Koln are playing exceptional attacking football and could have had a perfect 3/3 if not for their defensive mistakes.
How the bookies view it: They don’t believe in Koln’s chances
On paper, Koln are the newcomers in the league and will be the underdogs against the majority of the teams. However, based on the fact that RB Leipzig are a work in progress, we don’t believe the margin should be that significant. You can currently pick RB at 13/20, while Koln are available at 7/2. If you feel like the teams could share the spoils, you can pick the draw at 33/10.
Recent head-to-head: RB won 6-0 last time at the Red Bull Arena
In less than a decade since the teams first met, they’ve played 14 matches in the Bundesliga. But it is shocking to see how big of an advantage RB Leipzig’s have had in the H2Hs. The Red Bulls lead the overall score with eight wins to two, while four matches ended level. Most recently, the teams met twice in 2023/24, and Koln’s fans would rather never think about either of those games, as RB won 6-0 and 5-1.
Players to watch: Who knew Kaminski was that good?
Before Koln signed Jakub Kaminski on loan from Wolfsburg, the 23-year-old Pole had not scored in over two seasons. But since he arrived, he’s been phenomenal for the Billy Goats, scoring twice in four games, including against the Wolves last week. He was also the player of the match for Poland with his two goal contributions against Finland during the international break. This is a high-risk pick, but we like the odds for Kaminski to score or assist in this match.
Probable line-ups
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Raum, Lukeba, Orban, Baku, Baumgartner, Seiwald, Banzuzi, Bakayoko, Diomande, Romulo
FC Koln: Schwabe, Lund, Hubers, Schmied, Sebulonsen, Martel, Johannesson, Kaminski, Waldschmidt, Thielmann, Butler
Anything else catch the eye?
While the Red Bulls have improved a lot since the trashing in the season opener, their defence is not yet airtight and Koln’s form suggests we will see some goals. Moreover, we believe the Billy Goats have looked far more prepared since the start of the season, and RB Leipzig’s odds give us plenty of options for bets.
We expect at least a draw, but betting on a single outcome is too high of a risk for us. But the double chance odds are high enough exactly because bookies gave RB a solid betting advantage.
GambleAware