Cologne and Dortmund parted with a 1-1 draw on Sunday, which both sides considered fair. BVB played a different system after the break, which had a decisive influence on the game.
Dortmund got off to the better start, also taking the lead through Marius Wolf in the eighth minute. But apart from another good chance by Erling Haaland, little came from BVB in half one. In contrast to Cologne, the “Effzeh” played a really good first 45 minutes. “In the first half we were the better team. A long ball came where we were asleep, Wolf made the goal outstandingly. After that, we were on the pressure, had the better chances and can maybe even lead,” analysed Mark Uth after the game on DAZN.
Relatively similar had seen the first 45 minutes also the opposite side. “We scored the goal and then had another counter-attack, the next half hour until the break was just Cologne,” said BVB coach Marco Rose. “We couldn’t get the wing shut, there was cross after cross, chance after chance. Cologne scored the just equaliser.”
In the second half, Rose then also switched to a three/five-man backline on the advice of his co-trainers, with Mats Hummels coming in for the stricken Felix Passlack. “That helped us, we came in well, had better access and also the better chances at the back,” said Rose. The opponent also praised the change of system. “That was not a bad move,” said Uth. “We did get pressure on it, but the second balls were gone more often. The guys from Dortmund are also great, they play it well. We then defended well. The point is perfectly fine. “
Both coaches satisfied in the end
The draw was completely fair after the complete game. “Overall, it’s a fair draw,” Rose also thought. His fellow coach and buddy Steffen Baumgart was also happy with the game: “It was a good game, really good from us in the first half. When BVB switched to a three-man defence, we had a few problems. But what the boys pulled off today is exactly what we want to see, so I’m very pleased. “
Of course, both teams would have preferred to take a three-pointer. Dortmund had to let Bayern pull away again to six points and Cologne missed out on closing to within three points of a Champions League place. But that was not an issue in the Rhineland anyway. After the strong season so far, however, you can certainly formulate bold goals, can’t you? “We no longer have anything to do with relegation, now we are looking upwards,” said Uth. “Let’s see how far we get. “
