Swinging from rock bottom to potential salvation, FC Cologne's Bundesliga journey has been anything but straightforward!
"You might think it's ridiculous, but we'll take it. Small victories count in the relegation battle."
Why, you ask? Well, the points trend points towards a successful turnaround for Baumgart's squad, regardless of their struggles on the pitch.
9 points in 7 games
You might recall Cologne garnering an embarrassing single point from their first 7 games. They delivered impressive performances and games, yet found themselves in the league's basement, unable to secure a win. Fast forward to now, and they've managed to snatch 9 points from their last 7!
Baumgart's squad kicked off their transformation with a strong derby win against Gladbach (3:1). Since then, they've been averaging 1.3 points per game. If they manage to maintain this pace in their remaining 20 Bundesliga matches, they'd end up with a promising 36 points. The odds of avoiding relegation have been in their favor twice in the last decade.
A Fine Line Between Success and Failure
Cologne is now teetering on the brink of salvation. But to ensure their impressive turnaround doesn't go to waste, they need to secure points in the final spurt of the year. Easy in theory, but tricky in practice, given their current situation.
Two away games remain. They'll face Freiburg on Sunday (3.30 pm) and Union three days later. If they want to maintain their pace, they'll need at least two points from these matches – ideally, a win in both!
Additional Insights
While their soccer doesn't spark was much delight as before, Cologne's recent form has caught the attention of soccer enthusiasts and news outlets. Their latest string of victories has seen them climb up the Bundesliga ranks, giving them hopes of a swift return to the top tier after last year's relegation.
Damion Downs and Tim Lemperle are superstars in their own right, giving the team some much-needed firepower in attack, which has allowed them to punch above their weight in the league.
But the battle isn't over just yet. They still have many hurdles to overcome if they want to secure their spot in the Bundesliga for the 2023-2024 season.
