1. FC Köln Faces Lineup Challenges Ahead of Braunschweig Clash

COLOGNE, Germany — 1. FC Köln head coach Gerhard Struber faces significant lineup decisions ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga clash against Eintracht Braunschweig, with key players either injured or recovering from illness.

Struber’s squad will be without goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi, who did not travel with the team to Braunschweig. Racioppi is expected to make his debut in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinal against Bayer Leverkusen next week. Meanwhile, Philipp Pentke is likely to return to the squad for the first time since August, though Marvin Schwäbe remains the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.

In the offensive lineup, Struber faces tougher decisions. Tim Lemperle is unavailable as he continues his recovery, and Linton Maina, the team’s second-highest scorer, is a doubt after missing training due to illness. Maina only returned to practice on Thursday, leaving his availability uncertain.

“We want to keep growing,” Struber said during a press conference, emphasizing the need for offensive improvement. The team has struggled recently, with limited attacking output in recent matches. A 5-0 victory in the reverse fixture against Braunschweig seems unlikely given both teams’ current form.

Struber may opt for a formation featuring a double pivot in midfield and a lone striker, likely Damion Downs. The defensive line is expected to remain stable, with Jusuf Gazibegovic and Dominique Heintz anchoring the backline. Max Finkgräfe could replace Leart Pacarada on the left flank, while Eric Martel and Dejan Ljubicic are set to start in midfield.

Florian Kainz and Luca Waldschmidt are also in contention for starting roles, though their exact positions remain unclear. “Max Finkgräfe is always an option for the starting lineup,” Struber noted, hinting at potential changes.

The match kicks off at 11:45 a.m. local time, with live coverage available on come-on-fc.com. Fans can also participate in a giveaway, with the first 2,500 Instagram followers and 1,000 Facebook followers eligible to win a €50 voucher for the FC Fanshop.