1. FC Köln Faces Defensive Challenges with Key Injuries

1. FC Köln, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, is grappling with significant defensive challenges following the long-term absence of former captain Tim Hübers. The club has now confirmed that central defender Joël Schmied will also be sidelined due to a muscle tear, as revealed by an MRI conducted on Sunday. Schmied, who has participated in all 11 league matches this season, started in nine of those games.

With Schmied’s injury, he becomes the fourth center-back to be unavailable for the team this season. Hübers and Luca Kilian are unlikely to play at all during the current campaign. Additionally, summer signing Rav van den Berg has been dealing with a shoulder injury and has not seen action since matchday three.

On a positive note, it appears that head coach Lukas Kwasniok may soon be able to rely on Van den Berg once again, as the former Middlesbrough player recently competed for the Dutch U21 team and is now training with Köln on a semi-regular basis.

In the meantime, former Germany U21 captain Eric Martel, traditionally a defensive midfielder, has admirably stepped in to bolster the backline. Veteran Dominique Heintz and summer acquisition Cenk Özkacar, currently on loan from Valencia and who has had limited playing time, are also available to provide support in defense.