FC Cologne vs Schalke 04: what the data says
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
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
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 7
- Ellyes Skhiri Injury Expected back early January 2027
- Imad Rondić Injury Expected back early November 2026
- Joël Schmied 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 5
- 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
- Ron Schallenberg Injury Expected back in about 1-2 weeks
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.