In Lower Saxony, a wolf pack was spotted hunting for a handful of goats at the gates of the Autostadt. What sounds like a report by Bernhard Grzimek, is just the normal everyday life in the Bundesliga, which opens its doors again this weekend. Again is the 1. FC Cologne. The founding member of the upper house is after one year of abstinence back in the Bundesliga.
The euphoria of the Rhinelanders is huge. The Effzeh now belongs in the Bundesliga and it is as if an old friend has come home. That does not mean, however, that the Cologne team is regarded everywhere as a buddy to whom one makes gifts. The team of Achim Beierlorzer will feel the same on Saturday in Wolfsburg.
The 1. FC Köln returns as champions of the second Bundesliga and as luck would have it, the Effzeh had to complete the last away game before relegation also in Wolfsburg. So closes the circle for the Billy goats this Saturday, who will naturally compete as promoted outsiders in Wolfsburg.
It is a duel of the top scorers. Anthony Modeste has already made a name for himself in the Bundesliga. The Frenchman is looking forward to the game with the wolves. Against no other Bundesliga the attacker met more often. On the other hand, Wout Weghorst is a similar guy who scored 17 goals in the previous year and wants to reload at the beginning of the season.
Maybe it makes sense in the match between Wolfsburg and Cologne to place a tip on goals of the two attackers. Before the kick-off speaks certainly much for a success of the wolves. The trend towards a home victory tends to be ahead of the match between Wolfsburg and Cologne.
If the climber succeeds in transporting the euphoria onto the grass, then there could also be a surprise in the air, because in terms of personnel, the people of Cologne have always been positioned like a Bundesliga side anyway. The Lower Saxony will want to welcome the guests in the Bundesliga and send the goats best without points on the way home.
We will see if VfL can fill its role as a favorite in the Bundesliga debut of the two coaches Oliver Glasner and Achim Beierlorzer. The kick-off for the first matchday in the Bundesliga between VfL Wolfsburg and 1. FC Köln in the Volkswagen Arena takes place on 17.08.2019 at 14:30.
Wolfsburg:
Rarely was the anticipation in Wolfsburg for a new season as big as it is the case this year. The wolves are celebrating their return to the international scene and have apparently found their way back into the trail after years of desperation. With Oliver Glasner, a new coach is to continue the successful work of Bruno Labbadia in the Autstadt.
This includes, among other things, the home strength. In the last season VfL remained in the Bundesliga at home seven times in a row without defeat. The wolves want to continue working on this series this season. However, the Wolfsburg home were also always vulnerable to goals. That could be an indication to observe the odds on hits of both teams in the duel between Wolfsburg and Cologne.
Last week, VfL, like all other German professional teams, had to play in the first round of the DFB Cup and was very difficult at the ambitious third division in Halle. However, the wolves did not have their problems exclusively. Many other Bundesliga clubs had great difficulties to make the leap to the second round.
After 90 minutes, it was 3: 3, after Wout Weghorst, Yannick Gerhardt and William had met for the wolves, but Halle was able to compensate in added time. In addition, with Joshua Guilavogui a VfL player had already flown from the square. Nevertheless, Robin Knoche and Josip Brekalo made it clear in extra time with their goals to 5: 3.
The focus is now on the Bundesliga and there is Oliver Glasner the tension already a bit to note. After all, the Austrian sits Saturday for the first time on a Bundesliga bank.
The anticipation seems to outweigh, even if his team has shown in training and also in the Cup that there is still room for improvement.
Personally, it looks pretty neat with the wolves. Daniel Ginczek (back surgery) and Ignacio Camach (problems with the ankle joint) are already out of suspension for the season opener. Paulo Otavio will also not be available with muscular problems. But the injured Wout Weghorst will be able to play from the beginning.
Cologne:
After only one year of abstinence, the 1st FC Cologne enters the stage on Saturday again in the Bundesliga. The anticipation should outweigh, one might think, but the statisticians have determined that the Billy Goats have all lost the last five away games in the House of Lords. Although there are about 15 months between then and today, Bundesliga is still a different number than league two.
However, the Effzeh has a squad together, which should meet the claims in the upper house. To the ascent heroes join some promising new additions. If Achim Beierlorzer manages to form a unit from this staff, then the 1. FC Cologne has nothing to do with relegation this season.
The fact that the trees do not grow into the sky, even among the Rhinelanders, was made clear last weekend, when Effzeh struggled enormously in the DFB Cup at second division Wehen Wiesbaden. It all seemed to take its expected course, as Cologne led through the gates of Jhon Cordoba and Florian Kainz to break the 2-0. However, it developed a cup battle of the very first cabin.
Wiesbaden came in regular time to 2: 2 and also as Cologne in extra time by Louis Schaub nachlegen, the SVWW could equalize again. Although Jonas Hector and Anthony Modeste missed on penalties, Timo Horn parried three shots, bringing his side into the second round.
The new coach conjures before the first match day the cohesion within the club and that is the reason why he would make in the match between Wolfsburg and Cologne quite a prognosis for a successful game of his team.
Cologne has a big squad, but on Saturday has to give up Jhon Cordoba (suspended) and the injured Christian Clemens and Niklas Hauptmann. Louis Schaub and Birger Verstraete are also still battered. Probably the final formation of the Billy Goats will therefore decide relatively shortly before the kick-off.
