Köln vs Kaiserslautern: Bundesliga 2 Prediction (18.05.2025)

On Sunday, May 18 at 20:30 WIB, at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, the local football club will host Kaiserslautern in the final match of the 34th round of the 2024–2025 German 2. Bundesliga season. The hosts will be satisfied even with a draw to secure promotion to the top division, as they are three points ahead of third-placed Elversberg and fourth-placed Paderborn. A win, depending on other results, could even bring them the league title. For the visitors, only a slim and hypothetical chance remains to climb to third place if they win.

Let’s make a prediction for the Köln – Kaiserslautern match, taking into account the hosts’ “golden” motivation. Bookmakers list the home side as clear favorites. A win for the “Billy Goats” is offered at odds of 1.51, a draw at 4.65, and a victory for the “Red Devils” at 5.75. The over 2.5 total goals line is at 1.46, indicating that high scoring is expected, as is typical for 2. Bundesliga matches. Bets on both teams scoring are being accepted at odds of 1.56.

Köln

The club’s management knows how to act decisively. Two rounds ago, after a 1:1 draw with Jahn Regensburg, head coach Gerhard Struber and sporting director Christian Keller were immediately dismissed. And this came with only two matches left in a season where the team is fighting for the title! The last match was already led by interim coach Friedhelm Funkel. In 2021, he was also brought in as a crisis manager and managed to save the club from relegation from the Bundesliga. This time, Köln defeated Nürnberg away 2:1. Now they have the chance to bring true euphoria to their fans in Cologne.

Kaiserslautern

Thorsten Lieberknecht also took charge just a few weeks ago after Markus Anfang was sacked following three straight defeats. Those losses likely cost the club its chance at promotion. The new coach remains unbeaten and has collected seven points from three matches so far.

Now they face a truly strong opponent. But even with a win, the “Red Devils” are not guaranteed anything. Elversberg and Paderborn must both lose, and Düsseldorf must not win. That kind of luck seems highly unlikely.

Head-to-head statistics

In 2023, Kaiserslautern defeated Köln 3:2 in the German Cup Round of 32. In the first round of the current 2. Bundesliga season, Köln narrowly won 1:0 away.

Prediction

Realistically, a draw is enough for Köln, since counting on a Hamburg loss to Greuther Fürth would be naive. The visitors will play for a win. We predict a Kaiserslautern win with a +1.5 handicap at odds of 1.63.