Augsburg vs FC Koln: Augsburg to edge Koln in a keenly contested game

The 27th week of the Bundesliga round of Bundesliga action will see Augsburg host Koln at the WWK Arena on Saturday. The home club has suffered this season, but they remain confident about avoiding relegation as the season draws closer to a conclusion. The home side scored twice against Wolfsburg in their previous game but conceded two goals in the last fifteen minutes for the game to end in a draw. Augsburg is 12th in the league with 29 points after 26 games. When they play on Saturday, they will be looking to shake off their recent results and get back on track.

Koln has recently had a dismal run of results in the league, and they are now close to the bottom of the league table. The previous time they played, they were held to a scoreless draw by Borussia Monchengladbach. FC Koln put up a terrific effort in the game that deserved a win, but couldn't hit the back of the net. The visitors are a place and a point behind their opponent in the league rankings and will try to leapfrog them this weekend with maximum points.

This game will be keenly contested but a win is expected for the home side. A safer bet however will be a double chance for the home side with over 1.5 goals.

Augsburg (WLWLDD)

Augsburg will be blaming themselves for the fact that they are still in danger of dropping to the relegation zone this late in the season. Augsburg has already wasted a Bundesliga-high 18 points from winning situations this season. They are just seven points ahead of the competition, indicating that they are not yet secure, and if they continue to fail to sustain leads, that advantage may erode rapidly.

Augsburg's home form has been the team's saving grace during the World Cup break, with 13 points from a possible 15. This is in stark contrast to their terrible home record in the first half of the season when they won only five points in eight home games before the break.

Augsburg's possible starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Gikiewicz

Defenders: Gumny, Bauer, Renato Veiga, Iago; 

Midfielders: Maier, Engels, Rexhbecaj, Vargas; 

Striker: Berisha, Cardona

FC Koln (LLDLLD)

Koln comes into the weekend as one of the league's most ineffective teams, having failed to win any of their past six games. The only goal they scored in that period was a consolation in the 6-1 thumping away at Borussia Dortmund. Koln has conceded 13 goals in those six games.

Except for an amazing 7-1 victory over Werder Bremen in January, Koln has struggled to score goals. Koln has failed to score in 12 of the league's 26 games this season. Koln has only won one match away from home this season. That victory came in September at Wolfsburg, ending their longest winless away streak in six years.

Koln has the opportunity to complete the double against Augsburg, having defeated them 3-2 in the reverse game back in October, although they have not done so since the 2007-08 season. They have a solid recent record in Augsburg, though, having won both of their previous excursions to the WWK-Arena, scoring seven goals in the process.

FC Koln possible starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Schwabe

Defenders: Schmitz, Hubers, Chabot, Hector

Midfielders: Shkiri, Martel, Kainz, Huseinbasic, Maina

Striker: Selke

Head to head

Expert Betting Tips

Augsburg has drawn their past two games and is winless in their last three league games. They have won four of their previous five home games, though, and will be looking forward to the encounter on Saturday.

Koln is winless in six Bundesliga games, with four of them ending in loss. They are winless on the road this season and might be defeated this weekend.

A win is most likely for the home side considering the form of the away side. Both teams are conceding goals hence there is a high probability of both teams scoring. A couple of scorelines are possible and include 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, and 4-1. Hence, a win or draw for the home side with goals over 1.5 is the safest bet. However, a straight win for the home side is more enticing as the odds are over 2.

Below are the expert's bets to consider. 

• W1 for 3.045 odds (1xbet);
• BTTS for 1.72 odds (Coinplay);
• First team to score is Augsburg for 2.20 odds (bet365);

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