Schalke 04 take on FC Koln this afternoon in a Bundesliga match that on paper looks like a home banker. Schalke are just behind the leaders whilst the improving FC Koln languish in twelfth.
The Royal Blues under their astute coach Felix Magath are a tough side to beat. They have won their last five games and are unbeaten in eight at fortress Veltins. However, if you study the five victories it is an identity parade for clubs guilty of trying to get relegated. FC Koln don't fall into that category but perhaps the Schalke boss thinks they do. In his press conference he was already talking about tough games in March and April and appeared to assume that it wouldn't be tough today. It will be.
Koln have a fantastic away record. They have only lost two from ten and these defeats came in the first two games against Dortmund and Hamburg. They have won four road games and are unbeaten in eight. In the ten away matches played they have only conceded seven goals and they went 6 away games without a goal passing being recorded by the home team.
Since the Christmas resumption they have won away at Wolfsberg and Frankfurt, drawn at home to Hamburg and lost a five goal thriller to Dortmund with an injury time winner. In short they are a roll and play dead team. Coral go 8 and this is a very big price about a team who have no injury problems today. Schalke may well win but the value ls with Koln.
