FC-Sturmjuwel Saïd El Mala made the difference: his super solo and a top goalkeeper from Marvin Schwäbe owes Cologne to the 1-0 victory on Friday evening (03.10.2025) at in Hoffenheim.
For the TSG it was the third defeat in the third home game of this season-thanks to El Mala’s hit, FC, on the other hand, is at least one night on a Champions League place in the 16th minute.
“We have the willingness to suffer”
The outstanding FC goalkeeper then said in the Sportschau interview: “That was good today, we defended very well. I was also able to thwart one or the other chance and of course I am glad that I could help the team. But first and foremost it was a great defensive performance by the entire team.”
Jens Ottmann, Sportschau, 03.10.2025 11:03 p.m.
Schwäbes coach Lukas Kwasniok ordered the location like this: “It is not important to be the place in the table, but that we have ten points. We also earn the points because we simply have the willingness to suffer and have run 127 kilometers – and we also try to play a good ball.”
Jens Ottmann, Sportschau, 03.10.2025 11:22 p.m.
Trouble at Ilzer
Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer was annoyed: “The result does not match our offensive performance, but we have always found our prevention in Schwäbe. We just didn’t have efficient enough. But such a game that you lose despite better performance can also be a good teacher – but we have to be ready to develop ourselves further.”
Jens Ottmann, Sportschau, 03.10.2025 11:23 p.m.
The game picked up speed from the kick -off, both teams bridged the midfield quickly and straightforward and searched the degrees. The hosts had the first top chance in the 6th minute when Muhammad Damar had a free shot after a rebound – but Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe steered the ball around the post with a lightning reflex.
Hoffenheim defense Like slalom sticks
Ten minutes later, TSG midfielder Wouter Burger made a fatal mistake, squirting the ball to Eric Martel, who immediately sent El Mala on the trip. This turned out to be an excellent idea, because the FC’s storm jewel turned over three Hoffenheim defenders such as slalom rods at its starting eleven premiere and slammed the ball into the net through the legs of national keeper Oliver Baumann.
The game remained intense, was also characterized by over -grapping duels, in which Cologne’s offensive player Jan Thielmann was the victim three times – he picked up three yellow cards for the TSG within 45 minutes. Bazoumana Touré in particular could be happy that he was not referred to the field for his entry. Felix Zwayer ended up with the right, and so Touré had the chance to equalize in the 24th minute – but once again parried Schwäbe excellently.
Zwayer collects trading again
Three minutes before the change, Cologne needed the var. After a flight contribution from Martel, Zwayer had shown to the penalty point, but in the opinion of the pictures the referee revised his decision: “The Cologne player with number 6 played the ball with the arm that was created and not stretched out of the body. Finale decision: referee ball”he said about the stadium micro. Nothing came forward from the FC in this phase for a long time, but was also relying on Swabian in added time – this time after a remarkable solo by Fisnik Asllani.
The Hoffenheimers remained clearly superior in the second round, had almost 60 percent possession of the ball and more than three times as many shots on goal. But when Swabia seemed struck in the 51st minute after a cracker from Touré, FC defender Joel Schmied threw himself into the shooting track – and celebrated the scene like her own goal.
Baumann prevents the Preliminary decision
In the game forward, Cologne only set an exclamation mark again after a good hour, but then three of them within five minutes. First El Mala failed from an acute angle to Baumann (63.), then Jakub Kaminski missed twice from a short distance (65th and 68th) – Baumann had the fists on the ball again at the second degree.
Until the final whistle it was an open exchange of blows. Substitute Ihlas Bebou grown only by centimeters past the equalization (87th), in return Baumann once again prevented the 0: 2 against Kaminski.
Hoffenheim on St. Pauli, Cologne against Augsburg
Hoffenheim will play on St. Pauli on Sunday evening (5.30 p.m.). Cologne receives Augsburg on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m.).