Borussia Dortmund defeated 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga with beautiful goals 6:1 (4:1) – and was able to take it easy for a half.
Above all, Raphael Guerreiro with one goal (15th) and two assists as well as Donyell Malen convinced in the well-deserved victory. Attacker Malen hung up twice for Marco Reus (32′, 70′) and scored himself (36′). Center forward Sébastien Haller (17′, 69′) scored his two and three goals in a BVB jersey, Davie Selke (42′) his first in an FC outfit.
“It was a really good game, a well-deserved win,” said BVB trainer Edin Terzic in the Sportschau interview. “We took control straight away, created good chances to score and then we were very efficient.”
Hector: “We just didn’t defend”
There was also praise from FC coach Steffen Baumgart. “Dortmund did a lot very well today and we weren’t able to stand up to them. However, we had many situations that we could have done better. We had enough corners and shots on goal.” The corner ratio was 6:1 for Cologne, with shots on goal it was 11:11.
Cologne’s captain Jonas Hector was served by the swatter. “We just didn’t defend and then that can happen. I think it’s good that we don’t have a Bundesliga game next week and can think about it a bit.”
Dahoud replaces sick Özcan
Dortmund played like a title contender, taking first place at least for the time being, but FC Bayern can do better on Sunday in Leverkusen (5:30 p.m., live audio and ticker on sportschau.de). After the fifth winless game in a row, the Cologne team remain a candidate for relegation and have a six-point lead over the relegation place. “I am responsibleso I also have to offer solutions and be the one to lead the way,” said Baumgart.
Dortmund had to replace Salih Özcan at short notice, the long-time FC player was missing due to a gastrointestinal infection. Mahmoud Dahoud came in for him in defensive midfield in his first starting eleven since August 12, 2022 and played well. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was also absent due to an infection and was replaced by Alexander Meyer.
Dortmund was dominant from the first minute and rewarded themselves after 15 minutes. Malen tunneled Chabot on the right half and passed sharply in the middle. There Guerreiro skilfully controlled the ball and tipped it past Marvin Schwäbe into the far post.
Reus with the hoe, Adamyan on the post
The 2-0 was even nicer shortly afterwards: Reus passed a hoe to Guerreiro, who put it straight to Haller and his left-footed shot was untenable. The three Dortmunders had a surprising amount of time in the center of the penalty area and only one Cologne defender against them.
FC barely managed to provide relief until the 21st minute. Sargis Adamyan, who was surprisingly allowed to start next to Selke in the storm, shot from a tight angle, Meyer deflected the ball to the post. In the 26th minute, Dahoud got the ball in the penalty area from a short distance. The arm was bent, the hand at shoulder level. Referee Daniel Siebert let play continue, he and the VAR probably decided on a natural arm position, Dahoud was in the jump during the action.
Five shots, four goals
Even if Cologne were better in the game now – Dortmund struck again. First the hard-working Malen failed from close range to Schwäbe, then Reus flicked the ball into the goal from the inside right after Malen had laid it down.
In the 36th minute, Malen did it himself, using a chain of errors from Cologne. Hector was wrong, Chabot didn’t attack – and Schwäbe was only able to deflect Malen’s sharp but misplaced shot into his own goal. It was Dortmund’s fifth shot on goal, four of them were in it.
Selke ended the Cologne peat doldrums
The game was thus decided, but FC at least ended their four-game goal drought. Winter signing Selke scored from a tight angle, it was his first goal for Cologne in the eighth game.
The second half was initially uneventful until Dortmund struck again mercilessly. Schwäbe deflected a free-kick from Dahoud onto the crossbar, Haller dusted it off unmolested. Just a minute later, with a bit of luck, Malen put it down to Reus, the captain scored low on the bottom left, Schwäbe was still there.
After that, things calmed down again. It got louder when Cologne whistled against substitute FC player Anthony Modeste and when a double hit the post in the 89th minute. Dortmund’s Niklas Süle failed with a header, Cologne’s Kingsley Schindler from close range.
“The Classic” is just around the corner
After the international break, Borussia Dortmund is now going into the prestige duel at Bayern Munich (Saturday, April 1st, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.) with confidence. A day later, Cologne welcomes rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach (3:30 p.m.).