Finally real home game atmosphere again! RB Leipzig welcomes 1. FC Köln on Friday (8.30 p.m.) – and up to 15,000 fans in the stadium. National player Lukas Klostermann (25) can hardly wait.
Klostermann: “I really hope that there will be 15,000 spectators. We played an incredible number of games in an empty or almost empty stadium. Now the old football feeling is back – it will give us a powerful push.”
Cologne is one point ahead of RB, most recently defeated Freiburg 1-0. In the first leg there was a violent exchange of blows that ended 1:1. Klostermann about…
1. FC Cologne: “They play as passionately as coach Steffen Baumgart is. In this respect we must not be worse. We’re playing a very good second half of the season and can go into the game with confidence even after the Bayern game.”
Cologne goalscorer Modeste: “A real penalty area striker who has an incredibly good eye for goals. He constantly scores his goals. But we won’t defend against him any differently than in previous games.”
Goal Champions League: “Perhaps the first three places have gone to Bayern, Dortmund and also Leverkusen. But we absolutely want to play the Champions League next season. Fourth place is enough for that. It’s important that we achieve it.”
too much risk against Bayern: “We didn’t have the balance right. We wanted to lure Bayern out to then have space behind their offensive line – but sometimes that was too risky. We have to perfect that. Basically, I think it’s good that we’re bold at the back.”
Fitness Training: “During the two-week international break, we worked intensively on tactics and physique. I think we are very well prepared for the upcoming weeks in England.”