Hamburger SV vs 1. FC Köln

Hamburger SV welcome FC Köln to the Volksparkstadion on Matchday 26 with both sides scrapping in the bottom half. Hamburg sit 10th on 29 points; Köln, 14th on 24, hover dangerously near the relegation playoff spot. The hosts picked up a vital 2-1 win at Wolfsburg last week but have managed just one home victory in 2026. Köln arrive in freefall — winless in five — and face a defensive crisis with centre-backs Timo Hübers and Luca Kilian both sidelined by knee injuries, plus Jahmai Simpson-Pusey suspended after his red card against Dortmund. Spurs loanee Luka Vuskovic has been a standout for Hamburg, netting from the spot in the Wolfsburg win. Köln will look to Ragnar Ache and Linton Maina for a spark, though their away record of just two league wins all season is damning. Hamburg's leaky defence means this won't be straightforward, but Köln's injury woes tip the scales. Our prediction: 2-1 to the hosts.