Cologne started the current Bundesliga season with new head coach Ståle Solbakken with some ups and downs. But they have since stabilised themselves and are 11th on the table after 11 game...
Cologne started the current Bundesliga season with new head coach Ståle Solbakken with some ups and downs. But they have since stabilised themselves and are 11th on the table after 11 game...
Cologne started the current Bundesliga season with new head coach Ståle Solbakken with some ups and downs. But they have since stabilised themselves and are 11th on the table after 11 game days - Cologne's best start in 15 years. Last week they picked up a comfortable 3-0 victory over promoted side Augsburg at home at RheinEnergie Stadium.

The guests from Cologne, who come to Weser Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., have found a winning formula under their Norwegian coach, who won five titles with Copenhagen between 2006 and 2011. And Solbakken's men will almost certainly require Werder's best to win at home. "They have shown a couple of different faces but have always shown something special. They have gained some confidence through their most recent successes. We have to be prepared and strong," said Werder coach Thomas Schaaf. Solbakken has Cologne playing a new system since his arrival, with a focus on defence, especially zone and space defending. But that could be problematic, as was the case with Cologne's 5-1 loss at Schalke and their 5-0 defeat at Dortmund. But it can also cause uncertainty as well, which led to a 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and a 2-0 win against Hannover. The 43-year-old coach also did not make himself popular at the beginning with his decision to take the captain armband away from Lukas Podolski and give it to Pedro Geromel.
Lukas Podolski in superb form
Lukas Podolski has been in superb form of late with eight goals and four assists. Solbakken has praised his star offensive force, comparing him to the best of the best. "Messi may have more finesse in his left foot, but Poldi's power foot is unlike anything else in the world. Barcelona are not Barcelona without Messi and Cologne are not Cologne without Podolski," said Solbakken.
"Lukas Podolski is a very important player for them, who comes up with dangerous action in front of the goal. He looks for a direct way to the goal and profits from his superb shot," said Schaaf. "But he is not alone. If you take away the pass to him then he cannot show his strengths." Werder definitely have a tough task at hand with Cologne.
