FC Koln host RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Tuesday, with time running out for the hosts to mount an escape from relegation.
Leipzig, meanwhile, appeared to see their slim title hopes come to an end at the weekend after league leaders Bayern Munich opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the table.
Match preview
On current form, Koln look destined for their sixth relegation to the second tier of German football in only the last 22 seasons, with Markus Gisdol's side now four points from safety after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend.
Despite having more shots and possession than Die Werkself, Koln failed to lay a glove on their opponents, testing Lukas Hradecky on only two occasions across the 90 minutes.
Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby both proved a threat with their pace and dribbling as they so often do, but on this occasion the pair of Leverkusen wingers both had devastating end product to go alongside their youthful exuberance as Bailey bagged a brace and Diaby scored from his new wing-back role.
Koln will require a much improved performance to stand a chance against a Leipzig side even more capable of taking the game away from them, but a record of only eight points from 14 home matches in the league this season will do little to provide them with much confidence of recording an upset.
Leipzig, meanwhile, stumbled to a 0-0 draw at home to Hoffenheim on Friday, which allowed Bayern to move significantly closer to a ninth successive Bundesliga title after they defeated Wolfsburg 3-2 on Saturday.
Seven points with only five matches remaining is a gap which will almost certainly not be bridged, particularly with the Bavarians no longer having Champions League football to contend with after their quarter-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Despite dominating the possession and shot count, Julian Nagelsmann's side could not find the breakthrough against a stubborn Hoffenheim rearguard, with Sebastian Hoeness coaching the visitors to their second successive goalless draw as he desperately attempts to move them away from the relegation zone.
All is not lost for Nagelsmann and his side, though, with a DFB-Pokal semi final against Werder Bremen at the end of the month providing them with a fantastic opportunity of putting their first ever major trophy in the cabinet.
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Team News
Koln are set to be without Sweden striker Sebastian Andersson for the rest of the campaign after the forward sustained a knee injury.
Jan Thielmann could imminently return to first-team action after recovering from a muscle injury but he is unlikely to be thrown in against Leipzig, while Ismail Jakobs could be out until early May with an ankle issue.
Gisdol may be tempted to hand joint-top goalscorer Elvis Rexhbecaj a start, with Florian Kainz potentially dropping to the bench, while Ondrej Duda will return to the first XI having served his one-match suspension in the defeat to Leverkusen.
Leipzig, meanwhile, welcomed Dayot Upamecano and Angelino back to their starting XI against Hoffenheim on Friday after their recent injury problems, with both potentially asked to go again on Tuesday.
Justin Kluivert, Konrad Laimer and Dominik Szoboszlai all remain sidelined, however, with Leipzig fans particularly keen to see the Hungary winger recover in the coming weeks in order to make his debut for the club.
One of Yussuf Poulsen or Alexander Sorloth will almost certainly lead the line after Nagelsmann's striker-less system failed to muster a goal against Hoffenheim, with Emil Forsberg likely to be the attacking midfielder to come out of the side.
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Horn; Ehizibue, Bornauw, Czichos, Katterbach; Skhiri, Hector; Wolf, Meyer, Rexhbecaj; Duda
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Upamecano, Halstenberg; Mukiele, Kampl, Sabitzer, Angelino; Nkunku, Olmo; Sorloth
We say: FC Koln 0-2 RB Leipzig
Leipzig possess the best defensive record in the Bundesliga this season, which does not spell good news for a Koln side struggling to score goals at the moment.
In truth, providing they are fully fresh and focused, Die Roten Bullen should have far too much quality for their opponents, with a defeat edging Koln closer to another relegation.
