Conference League Playoff
Cologne initially without captain Hector in Fehérvár
1. FC Köln fans on their way to the second leg against Fehérvár at the Sóstói Stadium. photo
© Marton Monus/dpa
1. FC Köln are surprisingly without captain Jonas Hector in the second leg of the Conference League play-off at Fehérvár FC in Hungary.
1. FC Köln are surprisingly without captain Jonas Hector in the second leg of the Conference League play-off at Fehérvár FC in Hungary.
The ex-national player, otherwise the all-rounder at FC when it comes to fitness, initially sits on the bench at kick-off. Kristian Pedersen takes over his position at left-back.
Youngster Eric Martel (20) moves to the side of Ellyes Skhiri in defensive midfield, Linton Maina, who came from Hanover in the summer, makes his starting XI debut on the right offensive, as recently as Florian Dietz, who was raised from the U21 in the summer . He had scored the opening goal at 1:2 in the first leg. After the defeat, Cologne need a two-goal win or a penalty shoot-out to still reach the group stage.
Fehérvár’s German coach Michael Boris, on the other hand, has the same starting XI as last week. This means that ex-Hertha player Palkó Dárdai, who scored the winning goal in the first leg, will start. The German Marcel Heister, on the other hand, is back on the bench for the time being.