Borussia Dortmund also won their sixth Bundesliga home match. Against strong Cologne, BVB efficiency decided the game.
Dortmund coach Marco Rose brought in four newcomers in keeper Kobel, Akanji, captain Reus and Hazard after the 2-0 DFB Cup win over Ingolstadt. Hitz, Reinier and Tigges were on the bench instead. Can was absent due to a muscle injury. Dortmund started without a skilled striker, but in a 3-4-1-2 with a one-two consisting of Hazard and Reus.
Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart rotated the team after the 2-0 DFB Cup win over VfB Stuttgart: Horn returned to goal, and Kilian, Schmitz, Duda, Modeste and Uth also started. Schwäbe, Jorge Meré, Schindler, Schaub, Andersson and Ostrak had to go on the bench instead – that made six changes in total.
Duda almost surprises Kobel – Hazard nods in
Dortmund pressed high at the start, but Cologne were well prepared for BVB. After a short period of feeling, FC took control somewhat surprisingly in a 4-3-3. The visitors even supposedly took the lead, but Uth’s goal was disallowed due to handball (16.). A little later, Duda almost beat Kobel with a shot from long range – but the keeper was on his guard (20.).
Cologne were often on their guard in the first half, especially defensively. After Meunier’s carelessly wasted chance in minute four, BVB only had a few chances in the first half. Reus had a free run after a great individual action by Wolf – but failed to hit the ball and therefore missed clearly (25th). The captain also missed narrowly in minute 37. Hazard did better and headed home Bellingham’s great cross for a not undeserved lead at the break (40th).
After the restart, Cologne attacked BVB’s goal time and again. The Westphalians hardly got a breather and were lucky that Uth missed the best chance with his head (55). Otherwise, however, Cologne did not develop the necessary danger. Kobel was only forced to make a last-ditch save on a Modeste shot (62).
Tigges shocks Cologne with his first Bundesliga goal
In contrast to Cologne, Dortmund started the second half anything but well – but in contrast to FC, BVB was ice-cold: The first shot on goal after the change of ends was scored directly by Joker Tigges after Brandt’s corner (63rd). The goal was a special one for the striker, as it was his first in the Bundesliga.
With the 2:0 behind them, Dortmund took command again. Cologne remained committed, but like Andersson (66th), were unlucky in their finishing. BVB, who did not manage to score any more goals worth mentioning, therefore also won their sixth home match in this Bundesliga season. For the first time under Marco Rose, who set BVB’s starting record in front of a home crowd, the Westphalians finished a Bundesliga match without conceding a goal.
For Dortmund, it’s now on to the international stage – namely in the Champions League on Wednesday (9 p.m.) against Ajax Amsterdam, where they will be looking to make up for the clear 0:4 from the first leg. In the Bundesliga, the top match awaits BVB next Saturday (6.30 p.m.) at runners-up RB Leipzig. Cologne host Union Berlin the following day (5.30 p.m.).
