Battle of the comeback kings

Did you know...

... TSG have only had one better start to a Bundesliga season in their history?

Currently, Hoffe boast 22 points from twelve games and along with Leipzig are the only unbeaten team in German professional football. The only time TSG started a season better was in their first season in the top flight, when they finished as autumn champions with 25 points from twelve matches.

... both teams have great fighting spirit?

TSG have gone a goal down in four matches so far this season, and as all Hoffenheim fans know, Julian Nagelsmann’s men haven’t lost a single one of these games. On one occasion Hoffe turned the game around completely to take all three points, while the spoils were shared on the other three occasions. Meanwhile, Köln have rescued eight points from losing positions – only Leverkusen have more.

... both sides create a lot of good goal-scoring chances?

Köln have created a total of 27 clear goal-scoring opportunities and are therefore the fifth-best ranked team in this statistic - TSG are two places above them with 33.

... TSG haven’t been able to win against Köln in the league for some time?

Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga record against Köln isn’t too bad, coming out on top three times, losing four and drawing five. However, you have to go back to seven years for TSG’s last Bundesliga triumph over Köln, as TSG won 4-0 in November 2009 away from home.

... TSG will have to have their shooting boots on at the weekend?

Only two players in the current TSG squad have ever scored against Köln, they are Eugen Polanski and Adam Szalai who have two goals each. However, each of them have only scored one against the weekend’s opponents while wearing a TSG shirt.

... TSG will have to try to unlock the best defence in the league?

Peter Stöger’s team have only conceded eight goals in twelve matches so far this Bundesliga season, meaning, along with Bayern, they have the tightest defence in the league. However, Hoffe are ranked fifth for goals scored this season so they can’t be written off.

... Hoffe are particularly accurate with crosses and corners?

Julian Nagelsmann’s team have put 151 balls into their opponents box and have found a teammate with 31.1 per cent of these, making them the most accurate crossers in the league. Köln have put the ball into the box seven more times, but only 22.8 per cent of these attempts have found a Köln shirt, meaning they’re ranked 15th for this stat.

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