In the top Bundesliga game
Gladbach manages to break free in the derby
Updated November 8, 2025 – 8:37 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Borussia Mönchengladbach celebrates an important victory against Cologne in the fight to stay in the Bundesliga. The Fohlenelf decides the game in four minutes.
Borussia Mönchengladbach reconciled the fans for the horror start to the Bundesliga with a clear derby win against 1. FC Köln. The foals won the 99th first division duel between both teams 3:1 (1:0) and left the relegation zone. It was the third success in a row under interim coach Eugen Polanski, who once again gathered arguments for a long-term stay.
Philipp Sander (45th + 3) took the lead for efficient Borussia, who celebrated their first league home win in more than seven months. 49 seconds earlier, Haris Tabakovic had missed a penalty. Kevin Diks converted the second penalty according to video evidence – this time for a handball (61′). A little later, Tabakovic (64th) made the decision 3-0. The FC also managed to correct the result from the spot in stoppage time through Luca Waldschmidt (90th + 2, penalty kick).
It was Borussia’s first derby win in more than three years against an unfortunate FC, which is still clearly ahead of its neighbors in the table. Shooting star Said El Mala also remained rather inconspicuous.
After impressive choreographies on both sides, an intense derby characterized by duels developed. The Gladbach fans started the duel under the motto “The power of the Lower Rhine will always be greater,” and the FC supporters bathed their corner in red and white light at the beginning. But the spark initially didn’t want to jump onto the field.
Most eyes were on El Mala. The 19-year-old, who was called up to the German national team for the first time on Thursday, was in the starting line-up for only the third time in a Bundesliga game. With a harmless shot from 20 meters, he also made FC’s first statement (18th).
However, the young star was initially unable to set any accents. There was only one real chance to score in the first half hour, when Tabakovic forced Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe into a strong reflex (16th). A lot happened in the midfield, and both teams showed respect for their opponents. Shortly before the break, according to the TV images, referee Denis Aytekin punished a foul by Kristoffer Lund on Franck Honorat as a penalty, but Tabakovic failed again because of Schwäbe. The following corner still led to the lead because Sander hit the far corner with his left.
For the second half, coach Lukas Kwasniok did without El Mala and brought in a classic center forward in Ragnar Ache. Aytekin had to go to the monitor again after a handball from Lund. This time too, the referee quickly decided on a penalty. After the 3-0 lead, FC were unlucky when Jakub Kaminski hit the crossbar (65′).