Adil Chihi and Petit are the big absentees for the Billy Goats, and will be forced to watch the game from the stands together with fellow injury casualties Christopher Buchtmann and Mark Uth. In addition, Ammar Jemal is away on international duty with Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nation and will not take part in the match.
Schalke are facing an injury crisis and will have to do without the services of the like of Benedikt Howedes, Lewis Holtby, Alexander Baumjohann and Peer Kluge. Long-term casualty Ralf Fahrmann, who is unlikely to play again this season, will also miss the game, together with Jermaine Jones, who is banned from league action until March 1.
Prediction | PROBABLE LINEUPS |
KOLN  Rensing Brecko, Sereno, Geromel, Eichner Clemens, Lanig, Riether, Peszko Podolski Novakovic | SCHALKE  Unnerstall Uchida, Papadopoulos, Metzelder, Fuchs Matip, Hoger Obasi, Raul, Draxler Huntelaar |
Adil Chihi and Petit are the big absentees for the Billy Goats, and will be forced to watch the game from the stands together with fellow injury casualties Christopher Buchtmann and Mark Uth. In addition, Ammar Jemal is away on international duty with Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nation and will not take part in the match.
Schalke are facing an injury crisis and will have to do without the services of the like of Benedikt Howedes, Lewis Holtby, Alexander Baumjohann and Peer Kluge. Long-term casualty Ralf Fahrmann, who is unlikely to play again this season, will also miss the game, together with Jermaine Jones, who is banned from league action until March 1.
| DID YOU KNOW |
Koln have conceded 36 times in 18 Bundesliga games so far this season, which is the second worst defensive record after Freiburg (39 goals).
- Lukas Podolski has found the back of the net on 14 occasions in the league this season, and is two strikes behind Mario Gomez and one behind Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the goalscorer standings.
- Koln have triumphed just once in their last seven games against Schalke.
- Schalke are on a four-match winning streak, which is two victories shy of the club record last matched under Mirko Slomka in 2006/2007.
- Raul has scored five times in his last three games against Koln.
- The Royal Blues have netted six goals from corners this season, which is the joint best record in the league together with Bayer Leverkusen.
Koln certainly have the firepower to breach any Bundesliga defence, but their inconsistency at the back has often cost them. Schalke have been on fire recently, and despite missing a key figure in Benedikt Howedes in defence, they should be able to claim the three points.
Editor's Prediction
FC Koln 2-3 Schalke 
