The derby as a turning point – 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach must have imagined it like this before the direct duel on the 26th matchday in the Bundesliga. The result was a goalless draw.
Both teams continued their winless streak. The Cologne team have been waiting for a win for six games now and are still six points ahead of the relegation zone. In five of these six games, Cologne have not scored their own goals. Borussia has not been successful for five games and is in no man’s land in the table.
The people of Cologne also missed the sporting answer to the turbulence during the week. FIFA had imposed a transfer ban on the club. “It’s not easy for the boys to deal with,” said Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart. About the game he said: “If you look at the whole game, we can talk about dissatisfaction. We did a lot for the game, more than the opponent.”according to Baumgart.
“We kept a clean sheet, that was important and good after conceding a lot of goals in the past few weeks,” said Gladbach coach Daniel Farke. “All in all, it was a deserved draw. I’m happy with the away point.”
Cologne starts the derby with a lot of pressure
1. FC Köln immediately tried to make amends after the 1:6 swatter in Dortmund and started the derby with pressure. In the second minute, Davie Selke was free to finish, but Jonas Omlin in the Gladbach goal was there. Nine minutes later, Kingsley Schindler shot the ball over the goal from a promising position.
Borussia, on the other hand, found it difficult to get out of their own half at all. Only in the 17th minute did the guests come dangerously in front of the Cologne goal for the first time. But then it got tricky: Cologne’s Timo Hübers brought down Florian Neuhaus in the penalty area. Referee Felix Zwayer decided against a penalty whistle and was not overruled by the video assistant. “We were lucky there”Baumgart conceded. “It was a clear penalty”, said Farke too.
Otherwise only 1. FC Köln played in the first half on slippery grass. Florian Kainz came closest to scoring the opening goal in the 22nd minute, but put a free kick just inches wide of the post. Again Schindler (28th) and Eric Martel (38th) had the lead on the foot, but failed in each case by the brilliant reacting Omlin.
Three Gladbach chances within a few minutes
Borussia showed a different face after the change of sides and made three dangerous shots within a few minutes. Marcus Thuram (50′), Lars Stindl (53′) and Neuhaus (54′) just missed the goal.
It should remain the most dangerous Gladbach phase in the game. From then on, FC looked for the way forward again, but did not pose any major problems for Omlin. The Cologne team did not create more than half chances. Substitute Steffen Tigges failed from a tight angle at Omlin (67′), Hübers headed a corner just over the goal (70′).
In the final phase, the game just rippled along. Both teams lacked the strength and the final consequence in the actions forward. In the 88th minute, Martel got another shot, but just missed the goal.
Cologne in Augsburg, Mönchengladbach against Wolfsburg
On the 27th matchday, 1. FC Köln are guests at FC Augsburg (Saturday, April 8th, 2023 at 3.30 p.m.). Borussia Mönchengladbach welcomes VfL Wolfsburg a day later (3:30 p.m.).