FC Köln Team News Page 2 - Soccer

Marius Bulter - Six shots, six crosses Bulter had six shots (two on goal), six crosses (zero accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Mainz. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 72nd min...

Impact Bulter's latest start marked his first since Dec. 13, and despite zero goals and assists, it was clear that the forward tried to maximize his latest effort. He updated his season high in shots, and six marks his second-best tally for crosses. Whether or not Bulter's latest appearance is enough to get him back starting remains unknown though, especially considering goals and assists have been a problem for him to log this season.

JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Alessio Castro-Montes - Another assist in another start Castro-Montes assisted once to go with 13 crosses (four accurate) and eight corners in Saturday's 2-1 victory versus Mainz.

Impact Castro-Montes began his 2026 calendar year with two assists at Heidenheim. He did not play Koln's very next game against Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich, as the team instead opted to use him Saturday against Mainz. In terms of getting the best result this weekend, Koln's strategy worked, as Castro-Montes assisted one of two goals scored by Ragnar Ache. With three goals across two appearances, the former is at least making an improved case for a more consistent role as Koln tries to turn the page in 2026.

JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Ragnar Ache - Brace off bench Ache scored two goals to go with five shots (two on goal) and three chances created in Saturday's 2-1 win versus Mainz.

Impact After consecutive starts to begin his 2026, Ache was dropped from Koln's starting XI on Saturday, but the demotion actually benefited him. He proved to be a spark plug off Koln's bench, getting his second and third goals this season. They make up half of the six G/A that Ache has logged on 23 shots (10 on goal) and 17 chances created in as many appearances.

JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Five saves, one goal conceded Schwabe registered five saves and allowed one goal in Saturday's 2-1 win against Mainz.

Impact Schwabe logged five saves in three of his last five appearances. Unfortunately for the goalkeeper, he logged zero clean sheets during the five-game span. Schwabe's next chance for a clean sheet comes Jan. 25 at SC Freiburg.

JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Denis Huseinbasic - Dealing with illness Huseinbasic (illness) is ruled out for Saturday's clash against Mainz, the club announced.

Impact Huseinbasic is dealing with an illness and won't be available for Saturday's clash against Mainz. The midfielder will hope to recover in time before next week's fixture against Freiburg. Huseinbasic has been a regular starter for the goats and his absence allows Eric Martel to see a larger role at his natural spot in the midfield.

JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Rav Van den Berg - Back from suspension van den Berg is no longer suspended and is an option moving forward for the club.

Impact van den Berg has served his two-game suspension due to the red card he received against Union Berlin and is set to return in the next contest. The defender started the last three games prior to his absence and could claim back a similar role in Saturday's clash against Mainz.

JANUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Concedes three Wednesday Schwabe allowed three goals while making five saves during Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich.

Impact Schwabe allowed a goal in the first half and two in the second as Koln dropped all three points Wednesday. The keeper has allowed six goals while combining for 10 saves over his last three starts as Koln take on Mainz at the weekend.

JANUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Linton Maina - Opens season scoring account Maina scored a goal with his lone shot while crossing twice (one accurate) and creating a chance during Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich.

Impact Maina opened the scoring in the 41st minute while tying for the team-high in chances created. The goal was the first this season for Maina as he made his first start since November 2nd in the loss.

JANUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Bench option Waldschmidt is on the bench for Wednesday's match against Bayern Munich.

Impact Waldschmidt was not with the team in the last match after an altercation with his coach, but is back in the team Wednesday, with the attacker as an option from the bench. He lost out on a starting role after his last two appearances were starts, potentially still being reprimanded for his actions. He will look to work back into the role, with three goals and two assists this season.

JANUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Likely against Bayern Waldschmidt will likely return to the match squad for Wednesday's clash against Bayern, according to BILD.

Impact Waldschmidt missed the last game against Heidenheim as a punishment from the coach due to a recent interview he gave to the press in which he expressed his dissatisfaction with his playing time. The attacking midfielder is expected to be back in the match squad for Wednesday's clash against Bayern after discussions were held within the club between coach Lukas Kwasniok and the player.

JANUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Four saves in 2-2 draw Schwabe had four saves and allowed two goals in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus FC Heidenheim.

Impact Schwabe racked up at least four saves for a second time in three outings, conceding two goals in each. He has given up more than one goal in seven of his 16 outings. Up next for Koln is a meeting with Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Eric Martel - Nets one in draw Martel scored one goal to go with three shots (one on goal), one cross (one accurate) and two chances created in Saturday's 2-2 draw against FC Heidenheim. In addition, he was give...

Impact Martel fired a season-high three shots and made sure that his first shot on target of the season counted, as he headed home his squad's first goal of the match in the 18th minute of play. This also marked the third time this season that he set up at least two chances created in a match, and the 13th time in 16 appearances that he tallied at least 30 completed passes.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Said El Mala - Scores seventh of the year El Mala scored one goal to go with three shots (one on goal) and two crosses (zero accurate) in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus FC Heidenheim.

Impact El Mala buried his third goal in the last five games, as he racked up a minimum of three shots for a sixth time on the season. On the other hand, this was his second straight game without accounting for a chance created, and his fourth straight game with fewer than 10 completed passes.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Alessio Castro-Montes - Assists on two in draw Castro-Montes assisted twice to go with one shot (zero on goal), four crosses (three accurate) and three corners in Saturday's 2-2 draw against FC Heidenheim.

Impact Castro-Montes assisted on both his squad's goals in the match, beginning with a cross to Eric Martel, who headed it home from the center of the box in the 18th minute. HIs second assist came early in the second half, where he fed the ball to Said El Mala, who buried a shot off the fast beak in the 48th minute.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Excluded from team Waldschmidt was excluded by coach Lukas Kwasniok from the team for the time being, according to Sky Sport.

Impact Waldschmidt gave an interview earlier this week and showed disappointment about his playing that forced coach Lukas Kwasniok to take a decision and ultimately exclude him for the team for the time being. It remains to be seen if the forward will resume team training next week and be available for the clash against Bayern on Wednesday.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Clears illness Waldschmidt cleared his illness over the winter break since he featured in a friendly this week.

Impact Waldschmidt missed the last Bundesliga game of the year due to illness but has featured this week in a friendly and is an option moving forward for Koln. The attacking midfielder started the last two games prior to his absence and could be set to resume a similar role to start the new year.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey - Loaned to Koln Simpson-Pusey ends his loan spell with Celtic to join on loan FC Koln until the end of the season, his parent club announced.

Impact Simpson-Pusey made six first team appearances for Manchester City during the 2024/25 season across the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, while also captaining the Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title and earning Premier League 2 Player of the Season honors as the first defender to do so. He previously captained City to FA Youth Cup glory in 2023/24 and has now moved on loan to the German top flight to continue his development after spending the first half of the campaign at Celtic.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Dominique Heintz - One cross on Saturday Heintz recorded one cross (zero accurate) and nine clearances in Saturday's 1-0 loss against Union Berlin.

Impact Heintz made nine clearances, second-most in the match. It was the first occasion this season where the 32-year-old made more than five clearances in a league fixture. Heintz made a block as well.

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - One save on Saturday Schwabe recorded one save and allowed one goal in Saturday's 1-0 defeat versus Union Berlin.

Impact Schwabe made one save and conceded a goal as well. It was the ninth consecutive league fixture where the 30-year-old failed to keep a clean sheet. Schwabe will next appear in the fixture against Heidenheim on January 10th.

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Rav Van den Berg - Suspension upgraded Van den Berg will be suspended for two games in the Bundesliga due to the straight red card he received against Union Berlin, the league announced.

Impact Van den Berg will miss the next two games against Heidenheim on Jan. 10 and Bayern on Jan. 14. His next chance to return will be against Mainz on Jan. 17. The defender's absence will force a change in the starting XI since he has started the last three games, with Cenk Ozkacar and Alessio Castro-Montes as possible options to replace him.

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Rav Van den Berg - Receives red card Van den Berg was shown a red card in the 84th minute of Saturday's 1-0 loss to Union Berlin.

Impact Van den Berg was shown a red card late into Saturday's match, with the defender accused of handling the ball as the last defender. Luckily for the defender, this will likely only result in a one-match suspension and a return when facing Bayern Munich on Jan. 14. He has started in three straight games, so this will force a change, with Cenk Ozkacar or Alessio Castro-Montes as possible replacements.

DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Dealing with illness Waldschmidt (illness) is not available for Saturday's clash against Union Berlin, the club announced.

Impact Waldschmidt is ruled out for the last clash of the year against Union Berlin on Saturday due to suffering from an illness. The forward will hope to recover in the next two weeks before the first game of 2026 against Heidenheim on Jan. 10. Waldschmidt started the last two games for Koln, therefore his absence forces a change in the starting XI, with Jakub Kaminski finding a more offensive role again on Saturday.

DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Dominique Heintz - Starting in defense Heintz (groin) is in the starting XI for Saturday's clash against Union Berlin.

Impact Heintz starts in defense for Saturday's clash against Union Berlin after recovering from a groin injury and performing well in training. The defender had started the last two matches prior to being sidelined and now returns directly to the starting XI. This is excellent news for Koln as his availability strengthens the backline.

DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Concedes twice in loss Schwabe made five saves and conceded two goals in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.

Impact Schwabe faced a difficult task against Bayer Leverkusen, producing several saves despite ending on the losing side. He has now failed to keep a clean sheet in his last eight Bundesliga matches, highlighting a challenging defensive season in which he has conceded 23 goals across 14 appearances. Schwabe will look to bounce back next against Union Berlin, who have scored just 19 goals in 14 games this season which is the lowest total among the current top 10 in the table.

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Dominique Heintz - Available against Union Berlin Heintz (groin) is back available for Saturday's clash against Union Berlin, coach Lukas Kwasniok said in the press conference. "Heintzi is doing well and represents a squad option....

Impact Heintz is an option for Saturday's clash against Union Berlin after recovering from a groin injury and doing well in training. This is excellent news for Koln since he started the last two games prior to his injury and could be set to return directly to the starting XI against Union on Saturday.

DECEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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