The 1. FC Köln greets again from the top of the table of the 2nd Bundesliga. The 2-1 in Paderborn was the most important win of the season to date – with a signal effect?
The 1. FC Köln is back to first place. Seven game days before the end of the season, the billy goats have the best starting point in the promotion race. Also because the FC finally succeeded in winning a direct competitor. The 2-1 in Paderborn was the long -awaited exclamation mark in the fight for the climb.
And that in a game in which the billy goats had to complain about as many injuries as in no game before. But the FC defied all adversities, did not allow itself to be thrown back by a deficit and delivered a particularly exemplary performance. With a five -point lead in fourth and four points before the relegation rank, FC can only beat itself from now on.
In numbers: If the FC also maintains its previous point cut (1.85) on the last seven match days, the billy goats would still score 13 points and complete the season with 63 points. The competition would then have to get at least 17 of the still possible 21 points in order to be able to become dangerous to the FC. Not impossible, but a Herculean task for all teams from third place.
In view of the importance of this victory in Paderborn, the FC can now go into the last seven games with a broad chest. Cologne can contest four of them at home in Müngersdorf, another advantage. Even if the goats have so far got even more points out (26) than in the RheinEnergieStadion (24). What in turn shows: The FC plays as strongly at home as far away, similarly constant – and scores similarly stable. An important pawn in the final sprint for the climb.
No wonder that coach Gerhard Struber said after the game: “Logically, the three points are not worth more than three other points. But we got them away against SC Paderborn, where we know that they have nothing against the rise. These points may therefore feel a bit different than on.” The Austrian also knows after the victory on Saturday that the great success is within reach.
But which also means: FC must now withstand this pressure. The billy goats are now the hunted again. In the league it is known how difficult the Struber team is to crack. This quality will take it again in the last seven games to make the return to the Bundesliga perfect. The victory in Paderborn showed how this can be done. In this constitution, practically everything speaks for an increase in 1. FC Köln.