Köln v Schalke derby preview: team news
Köln are without Dallinga, Hübers and Skhiri; Schalke miss captain Karaman and may lose Džeko. Team news, form and what is known before the derby.
Köln go into the derby with Schalke missing three regulars, and Schalke are without their captain Kenan Karaman and may lose Edin Džeko. Köln have taken seven points from their home games; Schalke are winless in three. Kick-off is 13:30 UTC (15:30 CEST) at the RheinEnergieSTADION. We have a call on this game on the Desk, but its numbers are for members, so this piece sticks to the team news and the form.
Köln team news
| Player | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Thijmen Dallinga (striker) | Out, cruciate ligament | Bundesliga.com |
| Timo Hübers (defence) | Out, knee | Bundesliga.com |
| Ellyes Skhiri (midfield) | Out, ankle | Bundesliga.com |
| Jusuf Rondić | Out | Bundesliga.com |
| Rav van den Berg (defence) | Out | Bundesliga.com |
| Ragnar Ache (striker) | Partly back in training, probably not an option | 1. FC Köln |
| Joel Schmied (defence) | Fit, full squad option | 1. FC Köln |
Losing Skhiri takes the most experience out of Köln's midfield, and Dallinga's injury leaves the attack leaning on Saïd El Mala, who was called up by Germany this month.
Schalke team news
| Player | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kenan Karaman (captain) | Out, muscle injury | Bundesliga.com, Schalke |
| Mohamed Sylla | Out | Bundesliga.com |
| Ron Schallenberg (midfield) | Out | Bundesliga.com |
| Max Wöber (defence) | Out, possibly until the end of the year | Bundesliga.com |
| Dejan Ljubičić (midfield) | Out | Bundesliga.com |
| Edin Džeko (striker) | Doubt, head laceration | Bundesliga.com |
Without Karaman and possibly Džeko, Schalke would be short of both their leader and their most experienced finisher in the same game.
Form
| Köln | Schalke | |
|---|---|---|
| Home or away form | 7 points from 3 home games | Winless in last 3 |
| Last home or away result | Beat Gladbach 2–1 at home | Lost 0–1 to Mainz |
| Other home results | Beat Hoffenheim 3–2, drew 1–1 with Bremen |
Köln coach René Wagner said his side "must show more passion than Schalke" and want to stay unbeaten at home, per the club. He also warned that Schalke "can be extremely dangerous on the counter" and expects them to sit deep. A good home record points one way; the absences on both sides make the game harder to read than the form table.
What this does not tell you
It does not give our chance; that sits on the Desk until the match settles, then it goes on the public record, as explained in how a BAI8 call gets settled on the record. Line-ups are not out, so Džeko's status is still open, and there are no prices here. A team-news list also cannot weigh how much each absence matters; for that, read how to bet on football with a model.
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Common questions
When is Köln v Schalke?
Saturday 24 October 2026, at 13:30 UTC (15:30 CEST) at the RheinEnergieSTADION in Cologne, Bundesliga matchday 7.
Who is injured for Köln v Schalke?
Köln are without Thijmen Dallinga, Timo Hübers, Ellyes Skhiri, Jusuf Rondić and Rav van den Berg, with striker Ragnar Ache probably not ready. Schalke are without captain Kenan Karaman, Mohamed Sylla, Ron Schallenberg, Max Wöber and Dejan Ljubičić, and Edin Džeko is a doubt.
Is Edin Džeko playing against Köln?
He is a doubt after a head laceration, per Bundesliga.com's team news. Schalke will decide close to kick-off.
What is BAI8's prediction for Köln v Schalke?
We have a call on this game on the Desk, published on 19 October, but its numbers are for members, so this preview gives the team news and the form only. It goes on the public record with its numbers once the game settles.