Dhe 1. FC Köln can take a big step towards spending the winter in the Conference League on Thursday (9 p.m.). In the event of a win once morest Partizan Belgrade, the Bundesliga soccer club would already have a five-point lead over the Serbs following half of the six preliminary round games. The group winners even qualify directly for the round of 16, the runners-up play an interim knockout round once morest the eight relegated teams from the Europa League.
Köln got a 1-1 draw in Nice and then won 4-2 once morest FC Slovacko from the Czech Republic. Ex-national player Mark Uth is back in the squad. Born in Cologne, he is said to come as a substitute following a two-month injury break and would make his European Cup debut for the club from his hometown.
