Article

Bundesliga preview: Strugglers meet in crucial battle

18 August 2011 10:52

Cologne and Kaiserslautern can recover from poor starts to the Bundesliga season when they clash on Saturday.

Last meets second-last in the clash at the RheinEnergie Stadion, with both sides keen to win all three points for the first time this season.

The match will be the late kickoff on Saturday and with the attention of the country on both sides, the pressure will be on.

Cologne's start to the season has been nothing short of disastrous.

They started with a home match against Wolfsburg and were comfortably defeated 3-0, before suffering a 5-1 thumping at Schalke on Saturday.

They now sit bottom of the table with a goal difference of negative seven after just two matches and need to improve quickly.

Kaiserslautern, who recorded an impressive seventh-place finish last season, were held to a 1-1 home draw against Augsburg on Saturday, after a 2-0 opening-day defeat at Werder Bremen.

Goal scoring could prove to be a problem, with last season's top scorer Srdjan Lakic (16 goals), Erwin Hoffer and Jan Moravek (five goals each) no longer at the club.

The trio provided 26 of the 47 league goals Kaiserslautern scored last season, with only Israeli Etey Shechter looming as a quality replacement.

On Friday, fourth meets fifth as the unbeaten Borussia Moenchengladbach host Wolfsburg.

On Saturday, reigning champions Borussia Dortmund host Nurnberg, with the former keen to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to bogey side Hoffenheim.

Bayern Munich were lucky to notch a last-gasp 1-0 win at Wolfsburg and manager Jupp Heynckes will demand a more professional performance when his side play in front of their home fans at the Allianz Arena against Nuremberg.

Last season's runners-up Bayer Leverkusen are on the road to Stuttgart, Werder Bremen host Freiburg and Augsburg are at home against Hoffenheim in other matches on Saturday.

On Sunday, table-toppers Mainz host Schalke with the former keen to make it three wins from three after an impressive start to the season, while Hannover host Hertha Berlin.

Info

Köln

W L L D D

1 - 1

Kaiserslautern

L W W L W

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 1
Full-time: 1 - 1

Venue: RheinEnergieStadion (Köln)
Attendance: 47200

Goals

	0 - 1	17' I. Iličević (assist by F. Dick)
M. Jajalo 19'	1 - 1

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
22	M. Varvodić
23	K. McKenna
4	C. Eichner
2	M. Brečko	53'
5	S. Riether
21	Pedro Geromel
20	A. Chihi
13	M. Lanig	34'
15	S. Peszko
19	M. Jajalo	19'
11	M. Novakovič
Coach: S. Solbakken

#	Player	Bookings
29	K. Trapp
5	M. Amedick	2'
3	L. Jessen	81'
23	F. Dick	79'
20	Rodnei
22	I. Iličević	17'
7	O. Kirch	25'
8	C. Tiffert
28	K. Fortounis
16	R. Sukuta-Pasu
9	E. Shechter
Coach: M. Kurz

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
12	Andrezinho for C. Eichner 6'	87'
27	C. Clemens for S. Peszko 72'
25	A. Matuszczyk for K. McKenna 85'
26	T. Horn
18	T. Makino
28	O. Roshi
31	M. Uth

#	Player	Bookings
10	O. Şahan for K. Fortounis 75'
30	D. Kouemaha for R. Sukuta-Pasu 86'
13	T. Petsos for O. Kirch 90'
1	T. Sippel
6	M. Abel
15	C. Walch
21	P. De Wit

Tuesday 21 May

15:30	Leonardo: Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to stay
15:08	Carroll thanks West Hams fans after loan spell
14:31	De Laurentiis confirms Dzeko interest
14:16	Wilshere dreams of England captaincy
14:14	Mourinho a ´scourge´ on Spanish football
14:02	Moratti will not rush decision on Stramaccioni´s future
13:43	Klopp warns Dortmund stars about leaving
12:44	Schneiderlin backs Southampton to improve
12:29	Podolski delighted with fourth spot
12:12	Sigurdsson targets improvement at Tottenham
11:17	Di Canio criticised by PFA chief
10:50	Steaua owner Becali jailed for three years
10:00	Hummels pledges future to Dortmund
09:46	Retiring Ferguson ´overwhelmed´ by recognition
09:31	J.League Preview: Top three expected to win
06:34	Argentine Primera Division Wrap: Tigre earn point at Lanus
06:21	Galtier wants Ancelotti to stay
06:09	Pique, Barca playing for record haul
04:41	Gazidis, Arsenal target silverware
03:17	Juan plots Inter redemption
03:08	Gibbs wants to build on strong finish
02:58	Racism will not drive out Drogba
02:28	Martinez coy on Wigan future
02:17	Fernandinho still seeking City switch
02:01	Roberto Carlos set to coach Sivasspor
00:13	Ferguson named LMA Manager of the Year

Monday 20 May

21:07	Inter, Roma fined for racist abuse
20:15	Mourinho in quotes
20:14	Real Madrid part company with Mourinho
20:03	Rodwell called up by England
19:40	Messi keen on Barca stay
18:39	Atletico Madrid ready to sell Falcao
18:35	Abbiati extends Milan deal
18:32	Terry misses Chelsea tour
18:30	Schwarzer unaware of new contract offer from Fulham
18:19	O´Brien proud of West Ham finish
17:34	Doncaster appoint Dickov as manager
17:07	Hearts avoid SPL points deduction
16:53	Galliani to hold talks with Allegri
16:52	Hill blasts Hughes´ QPR signings
16:36	Lampard: I have not performed at World Cups
16:20	Kacaniklic targets first-team place
16:13	Jardim replaces Ferreira at Sporting Lisbon
16:10	Indonesia fined for crowd trouble
15:57	Mignolet not worried about speculation
15:42	Neville uncertain on future
15:07	Hummels could make Champions League final
15:01	Napoli stars hail departing Mazzarri
14:44	Juninho: Donovan gets advantage with referees
14:32	Harper hails ´incredible´ reception
14:27	Giovinco not leaving Juve
14:21	Lambert ´proud´ of top-flight return
14:21	Torres targets improvement
14:06	Fernandinho wants to join Manchester City
13:49	Galliani relieved with Champions League spot
13:33	Stramaccioni bemoans injury-hit season
13:19	Lewandowski focused on Wembley
12:57	Reading owner confirms Pogrebnyak clause
12:51	Owen thanks Stoke for ´great experience´
12:36	Rizzoli to take charge of UEFA Champions League final
12:18	Raheem Sterling case dismissed
12:14	Schuerrle expects Leverkusen exit
12:03	Howson delighted with Norwich progress
11:53	Milan players targeted in Florence
11:32	Lukaku: Fans inspired my performances
11:24	Williams dismisses Arsenal links
10:52	Scolari: Neymar will be a Barcelona idol
10:45	David Luiz praises ´amazing´ Benitez
10:22	Walcott wants title tilt next term
10:12	Carragher´s final Liverpool appearance full of emotion
10:05	Carrick: United must move on from Ferguson
09:56	Villas-Boas confident Bale with stay at Tottenham
09:13	AFC Champions League Preview: Guangzhou eye last eight
08:26	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Nahuelpan class buoys Barcelona
07:58	Liga MX Wrap: America, Cruz Azul reach final
07:53	MLS Wrap: Johnson does Dallas, Salt Lake sink Chivas
07:40	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Sporting Cristal shine on top
07:09	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Melgarejo on a winner
06:48	Chile Primera Division Wrap: Top two win again
06:20	Colombia Primera A Wrap: Tolima strike late to go top
05:56	Costa Rica Primera Division: Cartagines v Herediano
05:24	Cahill in top form in New York
04:45	Henry: Galaxy were better than New York
04:35	Fulham plan Schwarzer solution talks
04:13	Vilanova staying, says Roura
04:05	Merrick joins Phoenix as coach
03:53	Juric signs with A-League´s Wanderers
03:14	Mazzarri leaves second-placed Napoli
03:03	Campeonato Paulista: Santos 1 Corinthians 1 (3-2 agg)
00:47	La Liga Wrap: Barcelona, Deportivo notch victories
00:40	Allegri refuses to be drawn on talk of future
00:32	Ibrahimovic, Ancelotti land Ligue 1 honours
00:09	Primeira Liga Wrap: Porto confirm title, Moreirense relegated

Sunday 19 May

23:48	Redknapp laments squad quality
23:46	Pochettino not setting goals yet
23:42	Clarke believes West Brom could have snatched victory against United
23:41	Laudrup rues prolifcacy in Fulham defeat
23:37	Serie A: Siena 1 Milan 2
23:31	Hernandez: Ferguson has changed world football
23:28	Benitez happy with Chelsea spell
23:21	Moyes bemoans wasted chances
23:16	Di Canio´s anger at Sunderland´s ill-discipline
23:06	La Liga: Barcelona 2 Real Valladolid 1
23:03	Serie A: Inter 2 Udinese 5
22:43	Porto clinch Portuguese crown
22:35	Jol pleased to end ´horrendous´ run
22:24	Pardew: We owe debt to fans
22:21	Rodgers: Replacing Carragher difficult
22:03	Turkish Super Lig Wrap: Galatasaray win, Besiktas beaten
21:59	Wenger praises Arsenal belief
21:41	Pulis: Club will deal with pig´s head incident
21:41	Players not to blame after ´emotional´ week, says Kidd
21:33	Martinez refuses to be drawn on future
21:29	Hughton pleased with ´outstanding´ Norwich
21:06	Eredivisie Wrap: Twente, Utrecht advance
20:53	Lambert praises Aston Villa fans
19:52	Russian Premier League Wrap: CSKA Moscow win title, Zenit stay second
19:48	Ancelotti asks to leave PSG
19:22	Premier League: West Ham 4 Reading 2
19:18	Premier League: Swansea 0 Fulham 3
19:16	Premier League: Chelsea 2 Everton 1
19:14	Premier League: Tottenham 1 Sunderland 0
19:13	Premier League: West Brom 5 Manchester United 5
19:05	Premier League: Manchester City 2 Norwich 3
19:03	Premier League: Wigan 2 Aston Villa 2
19:01	Premier League: Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1
19:00	Premier League: Southampton 1 Stoke 1
18:58	Premier League: Liverpool 1 QPR 0
17:31	Nasri denies PSG rumours
16:30	English League One: Brentford 1 Yeovil 2
16:13	Diego confirms Atletico interest
14:07	Leonardo: PSG honoured to have Beckham
13:17	Conte plays down Tevez talks
13:10	Jones apologises to Whelan over incident
12:51	Benitez hails Torres return to form
12:41	Ashley ´offers incentive´ for Magpies win
12:09	CSL Wrap: Guangzhou Evergrande, Shandong Luneng win again
11:56	K-League Wrap: Ulsan upset Pohang
04:59	Badstuber suffers injury blow
04:43	Ranieri eyes Falcao swoop
04:22	Carragher open to coaching role
04:07	Stramaccioni resigned to Inter fate
03:58	Clichy extends City stay
03:39	Vilanova not involved in Neymar talks
03:19	Neymar future up in the air
03:17	Hodgson wants players released
03:00	Conte has big plans for Juve
02:32	UAE Pro-League Wrap: Al Jazira go third, Al Ain lose
01:50	Emotional Beckham thanks PSG
01:27	Home-town club farewells Heynckes in style
00:26	La Liga Wrap: Valencia, Sociedad notch vital wins

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