1. Koln vs Schalke 04 Match Forecast for the Bundesliga
1. Koln
Schalke 04More picks
- 2nd half: Total Over (1) 1.3 pending
- Yellow cards: Total Under (4.5) 1.38 pending
1. Koln host Schalke 04 at Rhein Energie in Bundesliga round seven on 24 October. The hosts sit 12th with seven points, with the visitors in 15th. This is a chance for Koln to extend their advantage over the lower places; Schalke are level on points with 16th-placed Paderborn.
Koln: home results offset defensive leaks
Recent form and scoring patterns
Koln's last five matches brought one win, two draws and two defeats. That sequence includes a friendly draw with Viktoria Koln. Their latest league outings were a 2:1 home win over Borussia Monchengladbach and a 1:0 defeat at Frankfurt.
- Home league return: two wins and a draw, with six goals scored and four conceded.
- BTTS occurred in five of six league games; Koln have yet to keep a clean sheet.
- Four of six league matches exceeded 2.5 goals, although this remains a small sample.
Availability across the spine
Ellyes Skhiri, Thijs Dallinga, Timo Hubers, Rav van den Berg, Imad Rondic and Alessio Castro-Montes are out. Hubers has a knee injury and Castro-Montes a muscle injury. Ragnar Ache has partly resumed training but remains doubtful; Joel Schmied returns. Those absences reduce options in defence and attack. Isak Johannesson and Said El Mala each have one league goal, while Linton Maina has an assist.
- Eintracht Frankfurtaway0:1
- Borussia Monchengladbachhome2:1
- Viktoria Kolnaway2:2
- Hamburgeraway1:2
- Werder Bremenhome1:1
Schalke: limited output and missing forwards
League struggles behind friendly wins
Schalke's last five results include friendly wins over Rot-Weiss Oberhausen and Austria Lustenau. Their three league fixtures in that period produced a goalless draw with Elversberg, a 2:1 defeat at Freiburg and a 1:0 home loss to Mainz. The friendly goals therefore exaggerate their recent attacking return.
- Four goals in six league games represent an average of 0.67 per match.
- Away, Schalke have one win and two defeats.
- Seven goals conceded and two clean sheets show a less exposed defence than Koln's.
- BTTS landed twice in six league games; three matches exceeded 2.5 goals.
Muslic loses his captain
Kenan Karaman is out with muscle problems, removing a scorer of one league goal. Moussa Sylla, Ron Schallenberg, Maximilian Wober, Emil Hojlund, Dejan Ljubicic and Johannes Siebeking are also unavailable. Bruno Ogbus and Berkay Yilmaz remain doubtful; Paul Nebel and Silvan Widmer have returned. Adrian Gantenbein has one league assist, but the missing forwards leave Miron Muslic with fewer attacking alternatives.
- 1. FSV Mainz 05home0:1
- Freiburgaway1:2
- Austria Lustenauaway1:0
- Rot-Weiß Oberhausenaway5:2
- Elversberghome0:0
Recent meetings favour Koln
Koln have three wins and a draw from the four official meetings in the past five years. Their most recent home meeting ended in a 1:0 victory in February 2025. The results favour Koln, but the scoring pattern is mixed.
- 09.02.20251. Koln1:0Schalke 04Germany. 2. Bundesliga
- 01.09.2024Schalke 041:31. KolnGermany. 2. Bundesliga
- 29.01.2023Schalke 040:01. KolnGermany. Bundesliga
- 07.08.20221. Koln3:1Schalke 04Germany. Bundesliga
- 27.01.20221. Koln2:2Schalke 04Friendly Club Tournament
Second balls feature in Wagner's preparation
Rene Wagner has stressed winning duels and collecting second balls against an organised opponent. Koln's wider unbeaten home run stands at seven matches, while Schalke enter after three games without victory. No probable starting line-ups, formations, suspension updates, comparative strength figures or independent expert opinions are available.
Our prediction
At Rhein Energie, Köln have the stronger platform for this Bundesliga meeting. Their league record is modest at 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats, but the home split is unbeaten: 2 wins and 1 draw from 3 matches, with 6 goals scored. Schalke have taken only 5 points from 6 rounds, scored 4 times, and arrive after consecutive defeats, first 1:2 against Freiburg and then 0:1 against Mainz.
Our selection is Handicap 1 (0) за 1.55. This line protects the stake if the match finishes level, which matters because Köln have conceded in all five recent matches and the market rates a draw at 24.7%. The hosts still have the clearer support: they have not lost at home in seven straight matches, while Schalke are weakened by the absences of captain Kenan Karaman, forwards Moussa Sylla and Emil Højlund, midfielder Ron Schallenberg and central defender Maximilian Wöber. Köln also won three of the last four official meetings, keeping a clean sheet in their most recent home victory. The expected score is 1:0 to Köln.
Conclusion
Handicap 1 (0) за 1.55 is the preferred option: Köln’s unbeaten home record and head-to-head advantage outweigh their defensive absences, while Schalke’s reduced attacking resources make an away win less likely.
FAQ
When does 1. Koln — Schalke 04 kick off?
The match starts on 24.10.2026 at 09:30 (New York), Rhein Energie (Cologne).
What is the prediction for 1. Koln — Schalke 04?
Our pick is Handicap 1 (0) at 1.55.
What are the teams’ chances?
By market estimate: 1. Koln win — 47%, draw — 25%, Schalke 04 win — 28%.
Chances by market estimate
Team form
- Eintracht Frankfurtaway0:1
- Borussia Monchengladbachhome2:1
- Viktoria Kolnaway2:2
- Hamburgeraway1:2
- Werder Bremenhome1:1
- 1. FSV Mainz 05home0:1
- Freiburgaway1:2
- Austria Lustenauaway1:0
- Rot-Weiß Oberhausenaway5:2
- Elversberghome0:0
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10:16 | 8 |
| 12 | 1. Koln | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8:11 | 7 |
| 13 | TSG 1899 Hoffenheim | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11:14 | 6 |
| 14 | VfB Stuttgart | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 10:13 | 6 |
| 15 | Schalke 04 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4:7 | 5 |
| 16 | Paderborn 07 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5:9 | 5 |
Head-to-head
- 09.02.20251. Koln1:0Schalke 04Germany. 2. Bundesliga
- 01.09.2024Schalke 041:31. KolnGermany. 2. Bundesliga
- 29.01.2023Schalke 040:01. KolnGermany. Bundesliga
- 07.08.20221. Koln3:1Schalke 04Germany. Bundesliga
- 27.01.20221. Koln2:2Schalke 04Friendly Club Tournament
About the match
- 24 October · 09:30 New York
- Venue: Rhein Energie (Cologne), Këlʹn
- Weather: 13° · precip. 0% · wind 4.8 m/s
Odds
Odds updated 23.10 13:10
Home favouritism without a majority probability
The 1X2 market makes Koln favourites at 46.6%, with the draw at 24.7% and Schalke at 28.7%. That is a clear home lean rather than strong confidence. Over 2.5 goals carries 60.1% and BTTS 62%: the latter sits well above Schalke's season frequency, particularly with their attacking absences. None of the listed markets has moved noticeably over the past 24 hours.
Our prediction
- Market
- Handicap 1 (0)
- Current odds
- 1.55
- Confidence
- Our estimate
- 61%
- Market estimate
- 61%
- Stake amount
- 100 $ · 1.55
- Potential win
- 55 $
- Status
- pending
