FC Cologne vs Schalke 04

FC Cologne vs Schalke 04: what the data says

Match data Moderate evidence Bundesliga Insight date · 2026-10-20 2026-10-24 ~ 2026-10-24

What is worth noting before kickoff?

What this page answers

A side-by-side look at both teams' last five matches: attack, defence, running and availability. It explains where each side has an edge before kickoff; it is not a win/draw/loss prediction.

The takeaway

FC Cologne have the stronger underlying attack/defence, but Schalke 04 have taken more points recently.

  • Underlying goal difference (expected goals for minus against): FC Cologne +0.02, Schalke 04 -0.48.
  • Points per game over the last five: FC Cologne 0.80, Schalke 04 1.00, opposite to the underlying signal.
  • Attack: FC Cologne xG per match 1.84, 15.0 shots, 2.5 big chances created; Schalke 04 xG per match 1.10, 10.0 shots, 1.6 big chances created.
  • Defence: expected goals conceded per match FC Cologne 1.82, Schalke 04 1.58; shots on target faced 11.5 vs 9.2, big chances faced 3.0 vs 4.2.

Each team's clearest edge

Home edge

FC Cologne

xG per match 1.84 vs 1.10 · Edge 40.0%
Big chances created per match 2.5 vs 1.6 · Edge 36.0%
Shots per match 15.0 vs 10.0 · Edge 33.3%

Largest relative gaps among the displayed metrics.

Away edge

Schalke 04

Goals conceded per match 0.80 vs 1.80 · Edge 55.6%
Shots faced per match 13.2 vs 17.0 · Edge 22.4%
Points per game 1.00 vs 0.80 · Edge 20.0%

Largest relative gaps among the displayed metrics.

Head-to-head data

FC Cologne Metric Schalke 04
Results
0.80 Points per game 1.00
1.00 Goals per match 0.80
1.80 Goals conceded per match 0.80
1.41 Expected points per game 1.00
Attack
1.84 xG per match 1.10
15.0 Shots per match 4 / 5 matches with data 10.0
8.8 Shots on target per match 4 / 5 matches with data 6.6
2.5 Big chances created per match 4 / 5 matches with data 1.6
45.2% Possession 4 / 5 matches with data 37.6%
6.6 Deep completions per match 5.4
Defence
1.82 xGA per match 1.58
17.0 Shots faced per match 4 / 5 matches with data 13.2
11.5 Shots on target faced per match 4 / 5 matches with data 9.2
3.0 Big chances faced per match 4 / 5 matches with data 4.2
7.4 Deep completions allowed per match 10.2
Running & pressing
— Distance covered per match (km) 0 / 0 matches with data —
— Sprints per match 0 / 0 matches with data —
19.6 Pressing value (lower is stronger) 22.8

Highlighted values are the stronger side. For goals conceded, shots faced and the pressing value, lower is better.

Injuries & absences

FC Cologne 6

Snapshot · 2026-10-20

  • Ellyes Skhiri Injury Expected back early January 2027
  • Imad Rondić Injury Expected back early November 2026
  • Ragnar Ache Injury Expected back in about 1-2 weeks
  • Rav van den Berg Injury Expected back in about 1-2 weeks
  • Thijs Dallinga Injury Expected back late June 2027
  • Timo Hübers Injury Expected back early January 2027

Schalke 04 4

Snapshot · 2026-10-20

  • Ayman Gülasi Injury Expected back late December 2026
  • Bryan Lasme Injury Expected back mid October 2026
  • Dejan Ljubičić Injury Expected back late October 2026
  • Moussa Sylla Injury Expected back early November 2026

Latest pre-match snapshot; coverage varies by league.

Limitations

Based on 10 recent matches (10 with expected-goals data).

  • Injury snapshots start from 2026-09-17; earlier absences are not reflected.