Our prediction for this Bundesliga match:
Koln and Leipzig face each other at RheinEnergieStadion in a highly-anticipated Bundesliga game. The Red Bulls kicked off 2023 in great manner, with the team rolling over Werder Bremen 7-1, and they head into Saturday’s clash following back-to-back draws with Bayern Munich and Schalke. Steffen Tigges is widely expected to return to the starting XI, while all Hector, Selke, Pedersen, Kilian, Uth, Dietz, and Andersson are out of contention with injuries.
The Red Bulls, on the other hand, looked sharp in front of goal in back-to-back wins over Schalke (6-1) and Stuttgart (2-1), and, taking everything into account, we believe that there is a big value in betting on over 2.5 goals. Dani Olmo has joined the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Peter Gulacsi, and Abdou Diallo in the recovery room. Emil Forsberg is widely expected to replace Olmo in the starting XI.
Highlighted Player (Ellyes Skhiri):
After spending his youth career at Montpellier, Ellyes Skhiri continued playing for la Paillade at senior level. In 2019 he moved to Bundesliga side Koln, signing a four-year contract with the Billy Goats. Shkiri was born in Lunel, France on May 10, 1995, but he has a dual citizenship as his parents are of Tunisia descent.
The Koln midfielder made debut with the Tunisian national team in a 1-0 win over Iran on March 23, 2018 and he represented Tunisia at the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia later that year. Ellyes Skhiri’s main position is defensive midfielder, but he is capable of producing fine performances at both right and centre back.
His preferred foot is right and he has a contract with Koln until June 30, 2026. The Tunisia international made his Bundesliga debut on August 17, 2019 in a 2-1 loss to Wolfsburg and he scored his first ever goal in the German top flight in a 2-1 win over Freiburg on August 31, 2019.
Highlighted Team (Leipzig):
Leipzig are a professional football club founded in 2009. Die Bullen (The Bulls) were unbeaten in the 2012/2013 Regionalliga Nordost and, as a result, they secured promotion to the 3. Liga. After finishing the 2013/2014 as 3rd. Liga campaign in second place in the standings, Leipzig were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga and they competed in the German second tier for two seasons.
Despite suffering a loss to Karlsruher on the last day of the 2015/2016 round in the 2. Bundesliga campaign, die Bullen secured promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time ever. Leipzig play their home games at Red Bull Arena (42,959) and it has to be noted that the stadium was opened in 1954.
Die Bullen wear white shirts and red shorts while their away kit is blue and yellow. Ralph Hasenhuttl was appointed as the team’s manager at the end of the 2015/2016 season and you should know that the likes of Ralf Rangnick, Achim Beierlorzer, Alexander Zorniger, Peter Pacult, Tomas Oral and Tino Vogel were in charge of the team in the past as well.