RB Leipzig clearly won against 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga on Saturday evening (October 28th, 2023), which was also due to a very strong phase immediately before the break.
Timo Werner scored the first goal in Leipzig’s 6-0 (4-0) victory, converting a penalty to take the lead (15th minute). Lois Openda was then successful twice (40th, 45th + 3), David Raum once (43rd). Shortly before the end of the game, Joker Benjamin Sesko scored (88th), before substitute Christoph Baumgartner scored the final point in stoppage time (90th + 1).
For FC it was the seventh defeat in the ninth Bundesliga game of the season, making it 17th. There was no sign of Cologne’s euphoria after the derby win against Gladbach last weekend in Leipzig. That was due to the team’s performance, but it was also due to a Leipzig team that played cleverly and created magic at the right moments.
Cologne’s Waldschmidt unlucky
The home team got off to a better start in the game. After a quarter of an hour, Leipzig celebrated after Werner converted a penalty. Cologne’s Eric Martel had previously fouled his opponent Amadou Haidara.
In the 34th minute, the guests from Cologne had their best chance to score, but they were also unlucky: Linton Maina broke through on the right and fed Luca Waldschmidt, whose direct shot hit the right inside post. The scene could have been a wake-up call for Steffen Baumgart’s Cologne native, but the opposite was the case. This was followed eight minutes before the break in which the FC acted too carelessly in defense and conceded three goals.
Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Openda do magic
First, Xavi played a pass to Openda, who hit the crossbar from a half-right position in the penalty area. In this scene, Openda took the right foot – when Xavi passed to him again eight minutes later, he took the left. The result was the same: goal for Leipzig. With his second goal, the goalscorer let opponent Julian Chabot run into space with a hook, then hit the right corner with a low shot.
For Openda it was goals seven and eight in the ninth Bundesliga game, and that’s not the only reason why he is a reinforcement for coach Marco Rose’s team. As a double goalscorer, he was of course also the focus against Cologne, but the outstanding player was another Leipzig player.
Wherever Xavi, 20, was that evening, there was always magic. It had been like that at times this season. Just the assist before Openda’s second goal: How Xavi danced past three Cologne players with a tunnel and a dribble and then found his teammate with a lot of feeling was impressive.
The ball rolls from Schwäbe’s hip into the goal
Cologne’s defense were just astonished observers in both scenes, and they also found themselves in this role in the interim 3-0 win. But then there was also bad luck: cross from Benjamin Henrichs, header into space, save from Marvin Schwäbe. Cologne’s goalkeeper directed the shot to the inside post, but the ball didn’t bounce from there, it jumped to Schwäbe’s hip and then rolled over the goal line. However, this was not counted as an own goal, space is listed as the goalscorer.
Cologne’s Selke has a huge chance – and misses
When the second half began, the game was as good as decided. 1. FC Köln would have needed a small football miracle to still get a point. Once Davie Selke had a great chance to at least score a goal, but he failed. After a cross from Dejan Ljubicic, Selke waited at the second post, he also got the ball, but didn’t shoot into the goal. He shot at goalkeeper Janis Blaswich (53′).
Little else went together at FC, but things with Mathias Olesen somehow fit. Baumgart substituted him in the final phase. Olesen was on the pitch for three minutes when he received a yellow card. Seven minutes later he saw yellow again, meaning the game was over for him.
Leipzig’s jokers score late
Shortly before the end of the game, Leipzig was successful twice more, with two jokers scoring. First Sesko finished free-standing into the bottom right corner, then Baumgartner scored with a curling shot from almost 20 meters.
Worried about Olmo
They probably won’t be happy with their performance in Cologne, but they will probably be happy with their performance in Leipzig. Only the worries about Dani Olmo will dampen the mood at RB. Olmo came into the game after just over an hour, but had to be substituted seven minutes later. After a foul by Luca Kilian, Olmo fell on his shoulder.
Olmo had previously been out with a knee injury. He only celebrated his comeback last weekend. Now he is in danger of failing again.
Leipzig in Mainz, Cologne against Augsburg
On matchday 10, RB Leipzig will face Mainz 05 away (Saturday, November 4th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). At the same time, Cologne welcomes FC Augsburg at home.