FC Koln vs Mainz Prediction & Betting Tips (17 January)

2.Bundesliga champion last season, Cologne was able to maintain its very good momentum during the first weeks of competition to accumulate quite a few points quite quickly in this championship. However, it is now much more complicated for the promoted side who have not won any of their last 8 Bundesliga matches. Beaten by Union Berlin 0-1 before Christmas, the Boucs started 2026 with a draw at Heidenheim 2-2 last weekend. This week, they led the score against Bayern Munich before suffering the leader's comeback 1-3. In the standings, Cologne has therefore fallen to 12th position, still 5 points ahead of the red zone.

Will this Mainz team succeed in maintaining its position? In any case, this is what his supporters want, who have undoubtedly regained hope in recent weeks. Because since the arrival at the helm of Urs Fischer on the bench, this team has been undefeated. Capable of picking up a point on Bayern Munich's field 2-2 and holding Sankt Pauli to a 0-0 draw before the break, FSV shared the points again last week on Union Berlin's field 2-2. Finally, on Tuesday evening, the Mainz players won their 2nd victory of the season against Heidenheim 2-1 which allowed them to leave last place in the ranking and come back to 2 lengths behind the first non-relegation place.

Suspended for the last two days, central defender van den Berg is apparently back, just like his friend Martel. On the other hand, defenders Schmied, Killian Hübers and Heintz remain in the infirmary this weekend. Consequently, the defensive sector still remains quite sparse on the Cologne side for this match. At the front, we should however find prolific El Mala and Kaminski who respectively registered 7 and 5 goals this season.

Striker Bülter (3 goals) can also be dangerous. Landed on loan from Manchester City, defender Simpson-Pusey should retain his starting place.

• Summary: 1. FC Köln is going head to head with 1. FSV Mainz 05 starting on 17 Jan 2026 at 14:30 UTC at RheinEnergieStadion stadium, Cologne city, Germany. The match is a part of the Bundesliga .
• Referee: Felix Zwayer
• FC Koln Feedinco Rating: 6.82
• Mainz Feedinco Rating: 6.72