Thousands of Cologne supporters in the stands, a stadium in the name of a German insurance company and the Aiglons who will evolve with their outfit “outside“, in white, it makes you wonder who will play at home this Thursday evening at the Allianz Riviera. The Aiglons will touch German football culture with their fingertips. These processions of supporters who organize themselves to follow the clubs involved in Europe. Barcelona’s Camp Nou saw 40,000 Frankfurt supporters arrive last season. We also remember the Parc des Princes colored in yellow for the reception of Dortmund a few years ago. This time it is the northern bend of the Allianz Riviera which will speak exclusively German.
Cologne is no longer Modest
Taken aback by reservations across the Rhine for this match, OGC Nice had to interrupt online ticket sales to the general public. The club finally left the 8,000 places of the north bend to Cologne. We will therefore have a match in the stands before seeing, we hope, a good opposition on the lawn. Still undefeated in the Bundesliga (two wins – three draws) and winner at Wolfsburg last weekend, Cologne is 6th in the standings and confirms its good season finished in 7th place in May. Despite the departure of its top scorer Anthony Modeste last season (20 goals), the club trained since last season by the man in the beret Steffen Baumgart continues to perform and looks like the main opponent of the Gym in this group D.
Without Ramsey, Atal and Barkley
“We hope to finish in the top two,“confirmed Lucien Favre on Wednesday, who is having a complicated start to the summer. His Aiglons have still not won at home in the league and are vegetating in 16th place in the league. Europe can therefore serve as a springboard.”You have to stay positive. It’s up to us to turn the situation around,“explains the coach, who will be deprived of several starters. Out injured in the thigh against Monaco, Youcef Atal will not be there but should return to the field fairly quickly. Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss three weeks of competition after feeling hamstring pain against the Rocher club last Sunday. Also not from Ross Barkley, not qualified for the match. On the other hand, midfielder Mario Lemina, suspended for three games in Ligue 1, returns to the group.