News blog about 1. FC Cologne
Two failures on the offensive: Will El Mala return to the starting line-up?
Updated 10/23/2025 – 2:59 p.mReading time: 21 minutes
1. FC Köln is playing first class again this season. In the news ticker on t-online you will find all the important reports about the “billy goats”.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
1. FC Köln will have to be without Jan Thielmann for weeks. As Lukas Kwasniok confirmed on Thursday, the striker will be out at least until the next international break with a torn muscle fiber. This means that the 23-year-old will not only be missing from FC at the weekend against BVB, but also in the DFB Cup against FC Bayern and in the Bundesliga against Hamburger SV and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
In addition to Thielmann, Linton Maina, another offensive player, is also wobbling. Maina reported sick on Thursday and is also threatening to fill in for the game at Borussia Dortmund. Kwasniok, on the other hand, announced that Said El Mala could move into the starting line-up. “We don’t have as many options up front if two of us break away,” said Kwasniok. “Then the likelihood that Said will get more playing time has increased.”
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Marius Bülter is once again fully available to 1. FC Köln. The striker celebrated his comeback last weekend after a week-long injury. Now the veteran is fit again. However, it is still unclear whether the 32-year-old will be back in the starting line-up at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. “I don’t know yet. There are still two days of training left, but it feels better every day,” said Bülter on Wednesday at Geißbockheim. “Let’s see what the coach has in mind.”
Bülter himself is not only fit again, but is also on cloud nine in his private life. Two weeks ago, the summer newcomer became a father for the first time. “It feels great,” said Bülter. “Sleep is of course less, but the feelings of happiness trump that. I actually feel even fitter than before.”
Bülter wants to show that on Saturday with FC in Dortmund. After the strong start to the season with eleven points from seven games, the billy goats are “driving along with a lot of self-confidence,” said Bülter. The attacker himself has already scored three times against BVB in his career. In the Bundesliga, Bülter only scored more often against Werder Bremen (five times).