1. FC Köln finished the 2015–16 Bundesliga season in 9th place, thus ensuring a place in the 2016–17 Bundesliga. The 2016–17 season is the 46th season for the club in the Bundesliga and the third season in their current spell. The percentage of possible seasons in the Bundesliga amounts to 85.18% for the club. At the start of the season the club was in 14th place in the German TV money table.[1]
The preparations for the 2016/17 season began on 4 July 4, 2016.[2] From 10 July till 15 July 2016 the squad was in a training camp in Bad Tatzmannsdorf.[3] From 29 July till 5 August 2016 there was another training camp in Kitzbühel.
^ abSince the winners of the 2016–17 DFB-Pokal, Borussia Dortmund, qualified for the Champions League based on league position, the Europa League group stage spot was passed to the sixth-placed team, Hertha BSC; and the Europa League third qualifying round spot was passed to the seventh-placed team, SC Freiburg.
Note: The match was originally scheduled to start at 17:30, but was delayed 15 minutes due to a blockade preventing RB Leipzig's bus from entering the stadium.[17]