| Match Details | Information |
| Competition | Bundesliga – (Germany) |
| Round | 18 |
| Date & Time | 2026-01-17, 15:30 – (Include timezone BST/GMT). |
| Stadium | RheinEnergieStadion |
Prediction – FC Köln 1 – 1 FSV Mainz 05
Recent Form
As FC Köln prepares to face FSV Mainz 05 at the RheinEnergieStadion, both teams exhibit varying momentum based on their recent performances in the Bundesliga. FC Köln’s recent league form is characterized by a series of closely contested matches. They have managed to secure only one win in their last five outings, a notable 2-0 victory against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which highlights their capability to perform against strong opponents. However, their inconsistency is evident with draws against Heidenheim, St. Pauli, and Werder Bremen, and a home defeat to FC Union Berlin. This pattern suggests a team that can be resilient but struggles to convert opportunities into decisive victories consistently. Conversely, FSV Mainz 05 enters the contest with a slightly more positive outlook, with a recent win over Heidenheim and creditable draws against heavyweight FC Bayern München and FC Union Berlin. Despite a setback with a home defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Mainz has shown resilience in their matches, highlighted by a strong defensive performance in their goalless draw with St. Pauli. This suggests a team that, while not prolific in scoring, has the ability to hold their own against tough competition. In terms of head-to-head history, FC Köln seems to have a slight edge, having remained unbeaten in their last four encounters with Mainz, including a victory in their most recent meeting in August 2025. However, with both teams showing a mix of strengths and weaknesses in their current form, the upcoming match promises to be a competitive and closely fought encounter.
FC Köln Last 5 League Matches
| Teams | Result | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Corners | Free Kicks | Possession | Assists |
| Heidenheim Vs FC Köln | 2-2 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 5 – 4 | 7 – 9 | 56% – 44% | 1 – 2 |
| FC Köln Vs FC Union Berlin | 0-1 | 1 – 0 | 2 – 5 | 3 – 6 | 18 – 9 | 62% – 38% | 0 – 0 |
| Bayer 04 Leverkusen Vs FC Köln | 0-2 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 8 – 3 | 6 – 8 | 61% – 39% | 2 – 0 |
| FC Köln Vs St. Pauli | 1-1 | 0 – 0 | 0 – 1 | 5 – 4 | 6 – 6 | 58% – 42% | 1 – 1 |
| Werder Bremen Vs FC Köln | 1-1 | 1 – 0 | 2 – 4 | 4 – 0 | 11 – 11 | 49% – 51% | 1 – 1 |
FC Köln’s recent performances in the Bundesliga have shown a mixture of resilience and inconsistency, reflecting in their mixed bag of results over the last five matches. The team has managed to secure two draws and a win, but they have also suffered a loss, indicating some variability in their form. Their ability to score in each of these games, except the match against Union Berlin, suggests a decent offensive capability, although they have struggled to convert possession into goals consistently. In the match against Heidenheim, FC Köln demonstrated their attacking potential with two assists and a commendable ability to claw back into the game, resulting in a 2-2 draw. However, a lack of discipline was evident in the Union Berlin match, where a red card significantly hampered their efforts, ultimately leading to a narrow 0-1 defeat despite dominating possession. This highlights a crucial area for improvement: maintaining composure under pressure and avoiding costly fouls. Defensively, FC Köln’s performance has been solid, particularly in their impressive 2-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen, where they effectively managed to shut out a team with a higher possession percentage. This defensive resilience will be crucial as they approach the upcoming match at RheinEnergieStadion, especially with Eric Martel absent due to a suspension, which could affect their midfield stability. The predicted lineup suggests a well-rounded squad with a mix of defensive strength and attacking flair. With players like Marvin Schwäbe guarding the goal and a midfield core featuring Denis Huseinbasic and Ísak Jóhannesson, FC Köln is likely to adopt a balanced approach. The absence of Martel might necessitate a strategic adjustment, potentially leading to a deeper role for one of the midfielders to cover defensive duties. Offensively, the presence of attackers like Jakub Kamiński and Marius Bülter indicates a focus on quick transitions and exploiting counter-attacking opportunities against their opponents. Overall, FC Köln’s approach will need to capitalize on their ability to control possession while ensuring defensive solidity to secure a favorable result.
FSV Mainz 05 Last 5 League Matches
| Teams | Result | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Corners | Free Kicks | Possession | Assists |
| FSV Mainz 05 Vs Heidenheim | 2-1 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 2 | 4 – 1 | 10 – 11 | 42% – 58% | 2 – 0 |
| FC Union Berlin Vs FSV Mainz 05 | 2-2 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 8 – 9 | 57% – 43% | 1 – 2 |
| FSV Mainz 05 Vs St. Pauli | 0-0 | 0 – 0 | 1 – 1 | 9 – 5 | 9 – 5 | 53% – 47% | 0 – 0 |
| FC Bayern München Vs FSV Mainz 05 | 2-2 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 2 | 7 – 0 | 7 – 7 | 85% – 15% | 1 – 2 |
| FSV Mainz 05 Vs Borussia Mönchengladbach | 0-1 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 8 – 6 | 4 – 12 | 55% – 45% | 0 – 0 |
FSV Mainz 05 has shown a mixed bag of results in their recent Bundesliga outings. Over their last five matches, they’ve secured one victory, two draws, and two losses. The team demonstrated resilience in their 2-2 draws against high-caliber opponents like FC Union Berlin and FC Bayern München. Notably, their ability to score twice against Bayern, despite having only 15% possession, highlights their efficiency and capability to capitalize on limited opportunities. However, the lack of possession in that match also underscores a potential vulnerability when facing teams that dominate the ball. The team’s recent 2-1 win over Heidenheim revealed their ability to secure points in closely-fought contests. With two assists in that match, Mainz showed their capability to create and convert chances despite having only 42% possession. Conversely, their goalless draw against St. Pauli, despite having both more possession and a higher number of corners, points to a need for improved finishing and creativity in the final third. The narrow 0-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach further emphasizes these offensive struggles, as they were unable to find the back of the net despite a decent share of possession and corners. In terms of team composition, the absence of Benedict Hollerbach due to illness is a setback, particularly in maintaining depth in the squad. However, the predicted lineup includes experienced players like Stefan Bell and dynamic midfielders such as Jae-sung Lee and Nadiem Amiri, who will be pivotal in controlling the midfield and linking play. The presence of attackers Armindo Sieb and Phillip Tietz offers a promising offensive threat, provided they can improve on recent inconsistencies in front of goal. Overall, FSV Mainz 05’s recent performances suggest a team with the potential to challenge stronger opponents but also one that must address its inconsistencies, particularly in attack. The upcoming match will likely see them adopt a compact and strategic approach, leveraging their defensive solidity while seeking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities. The midfield will play a crucial role in balancing defensive duties and supporting the forward line to ensure efficient transitions and increased goal-scoring opportunities.
Team News & Injuries
FC Köln Injuries & Suspensions
- Eric Martel (Yellow Card Suspension)
FSV Mainz 05 Injuries & Suspensions
- Benedict Hollerbach (Ill)
Head-to-Head (H2H) Record & Summary
H2H Last 5
| Teams | Result | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Corners | Free Kicks | Possession | Assists |
| FSV Mainz 05 Vs FC Köln (24 Aug 2025) | 0-1 | 1 – 0 | 0 – 2 | 8 – 3 | 9 – 7 | 51% – 49% | 0 – 1 |
| FSV Mainz 05 Vs FC Köln (28 Apr 2024) | 1-1 | 1 – 0 | 4 – 4 | 6 – 6 | 0 – 0 | 39% – 61% | 0 – 0 |
| FC Köln Vs FSV Mainz 05 (10 Dec 2023) | 0-0 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 4 | 1 – 7 | 0 – 0 | 54% – 46% | 0 – 0 |
| FC Köln Vs FSV Mainz 05 (15 Apr 2023) | 1-1 | 0 – 0 | 3 – 2 | 3 – 3 | 0 – 0 | 54% – 46% | 1 – 1 |
| FSV Mainz 05 Vs FC Köln (21 Oct 2022) | 5-0 | 0 – 1 | 1 – 3 | 5 – 4 | 0 – 0 | 55% – 44% | 2 – 0 |
H2H Detailed Analysis
The head-to-head record between FC Köln and FSV Mainz 05 reveals a competitive and often unpredictable dynamic between these two Bundesliga sides. Over the past five meetings, FC Köln has maintained an edge with two wins, while the rest have ended in draws, aside from the significant 5-0 victory for Mainz in October 2022. This pattern suggests that while Mainz is capable of producing dominant performances, FC Köln has managed to hold its own, often capitalizing on tight matches. The most recent encounter in August 2025 saw FC Köln secure a narrow 1-0 victory away from home, demonstrating their ability to grind out results even in matches where possession was nearly evenly split. The historical data indicates that these teams often engage in closely contested battles, as evidenced by the frequent draws and the relatively even distribution of match statistics, such as possession and corners. However, Mainz’s ability to exploit set-pieces, as seen in their higher corner counts, could be a factor they aim to leverage again. Injuries and suspensions will also play a crucial role in the upcoming clash. FC Köln will miss Eric Martel due to a yellow card suspension, potentially weakening their midfield stability. In contrast, Mainz will be without Benedict Hollerbach, which might affect their attacking depth. These absences, combined with the predicted lineups, suggest that FC Köln, with its balanced mix of defenders and midfielders, might focus on a solid defensive approach while looking to exploit counter-attacks. Mainz, meanwhile, will likely aim to capitalize on their home advantage and past success at RheinEnergieStadion, seeking to re-establish their offensive prowess. Overall, the upcoming match promises to be another intense encounter, shaped by both historical patterns and the current form and fitness of the squads.
Predicted Lineups
- Formation: 3-4-3
- Players: Marvin Schwäbe (Goalkeeper),Tom Krauß (Defender),Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (Defender),Sebastian Sebulonsen (Defender),Denis Huseinbasic (Midfielder),Alessio Castro-Montes (Midfielder),Ísak Jóhannesson (Midfielder),Jan Thielmann (Midfielder),Jakub Kamiński (Attacker),Malek El Mala (Attacker),Marius Bülter (Attacker)
- Formation: 3-5-2
- Players: Daniel Batz (Goalkeeper),Stefan Bell (Defender),Danny da Costa (Defender),Dominik Kohr (Defender),Kaishu Sano (Midfielder),Jae-sung Lee (Midfielder),Nadiem Amiri (Midfielder),Nikolas Veratschnig (Midfielder),Silvan Widmer (Midfielder),Armindo Sieb (Attacker),Phillip Tietz (Attacker)