Match details. Bundesliga, Regular Season - 5. Kick-off is Sun 11 Oct, 14:30 Lagos time. It is played at RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne. The referee is Florian Badstubner.
What's at stake. Cologne are 14th on 4 points after 4 games, 1 point behind Eintracht Frankfurt, level on points with SC Paderborn 07. A win would take them above Eintracht Frankfurt. Borussia M´gladbach are 18th on 0 points after 4 games, 3 points behind 1899 Hoffenheim. A win would take them level on points with 1899 Hoffenheim.
Team news. Cologne are without R. Ache (thigh injury), A. Castro-Montes (muscle injury), T. Dallinga (knee injury), T. Hubers (knee injury), R. Ache (thigh injury), A. Castro-Montes (muscle injury). Borussia M´gladbach are without J. Castrop (shoulder injury), F. Honorat (muscle injury), N. Kuhn (muscle injury), E. Leopold (knee injury), K. Itakura (ankle injury), T. Kleindienst (injury).
Form. Cologne have won two, drawn three and lost five of their last ten, 0.9 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L D L W W. Borussia M´gladbach have won three, drawn two and lost five of their last ten, 1.1 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L L L L W.
The numbers. Cologne score 1.4 and concede 2.3 a game over their last ten, with no clean sheets. Cologne average 12.4 shots (4.7 on target), 5.5 corners and 1.7 cards a game, with 46% of the ball. Borussia M´gladbach score 1.2 and concede 2.2 a game in their last five away, with two clean sheets and three games without a goal. Borussia M´gladbach average 11.0 shots (4.9 on target), 4.5 corners and 3.4 cards a game, with 48% of the ball.
Head to head. In the last ten meetings Cologne have won four, drawn three and lost three. Nine of the ten went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in nine. In the last four, Cologne won one, two were drawn and Borussia M´gladbach won one. The last time they met, on 21 Mar 2026, it finished Cologne 3-3 Borussia M´gladbach: Cologne had 12 shots to 9, 51% of the ball, ten yellow cards.
The case against. Borussia M´gladbach's record still gives them 39% to win.
The read. Cologne or the draw. An open game. Borussia M´gladbach are the stronger side on form and the table. Their goals for and against point to an open game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 72%.
The bets. Best bet: Over 1.5 Goals at 1.15, 78% on the records (Cologne: over 1.5 goals in 9 of 9; Borussia M´gladbach: over 1.5 goals in 7 of 9). Backup: 2nd Half - Over/Under: Over 0.5 at 1.16. It often rescues the bet, but it is no guarantee. Leave: 2nd Half - Over/Under: Over 1.5 (the signs point different ways); Under 4.5 Goals (no unders on an open read); Under 5.5 Goals (no unders on an open read). Predicted score: Cologne 2-1 Borussia M´gladbach (9% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and an open game).