The mighty resurgence of Borussia Mönchengladbach continued as they claimed a dominating 3-0 victory in the Rheinischen Derby over fierce rivals Köln. With the result, Die Fohlen climb to the top of the Bundesliga, a point above Bayern München, before the balance of play this weekend.

Buoyed by last weeks 5-0 devastation of Werder Bremen, Borussia manager Lucian Favre made a single change to his starting eleven with Roel Brouwers entering for Martin Stranzl and from the opening whistle his side was in complete control. Quick out of the blocks at the second minute, Marco Reus sent a booming effort from eighteen metres that forced host goalkeeper Michael Rensing to stretch out fully to push the ball away. Borussia narrowly missed going in front via the resulting corner but the ‘keeper was in good position to smother Roman Neustädter’s effort via Juan Arango’s corner. Die Fohlen’s normally curmudgeonly defence was in full force with Marc-André ter Stegen controlling a rare advance before taking 1-0 lead at the twentieth minute. From a fine build-up of play on the left, Marco Reus delivered the ball inside, with Pedro Geromel unable to finish, before Patrick Herrmann provided the opportunity to Mike Hanke who overlapped, move to his left, to finish from eleven meters. Köln’s trying night continued as only ten minutes later the margin was doubled as Juan Arango took advantage of out of position ‘keeper as his perfectly placed free-kick on the right dipped over the wall to the near post. With the swift two-goal margin, Borussia showed greater care going forward and chances were sparing through to the break.

Köln’s enormous defending flaws were exposed two minutes after the re-start as a quick counter from a corner of their own led by Håvard Nordtveit saw the ball played Patrick Herrmann whose effort from inside the area was halted by Michael Rensing but Mike Hanke was on hand to drill the third and perfunctory goal into the bottom left corner of the net. Rightfully venomous at the carelessly defending, the Köln lashed out his anger but with the contest effectively fait accompli Borussia went about the task of securing the points. For the balance of time, Köln’s advances were rare and what little trickled through were easily handled by nineteen year-old goalkeeper virtuoso Marc-André ter Stegen. Though Borussia Mönchengladbach was unable to add to their margin with their final whistle they celebrated a empowering 3-0 victory in the Rheinischen Derby.

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Borussia Dortmund continued its march toward the Bundesliga crown as they followed up last weeks convincing victory over Bayern München with a comfortable 1-0 defeat of Köln at Westfalenstadion. The Dortmunders now hold a garish fifteen point advantage over nearest rivals, thereby requiring a complete collapse for them not to hoist the hardware, whereas Köln sits mid-table at the eleventh spot.

In front of BVB’s deeply loyal supporters, manager Jürgen Klopp made two changes to his most recent line-up with Roman Weidenfeller returning as “number one” and Felipe Santana entering for Mats Hummels.

From match day referee Günter Perl’s opening whistle Schwarzgelben surged forward with purpose. Köln goalkeeper Michael Rensing was up to the test as he stretched out fully to stop effort Neven Subotić’s effort at the tenth minute and fortune ruled shortly thereafter when Kevin Pezzoni cleared Lucas Barrios’ goal-bound offering off the line. Köln continued to dig in their, firmly displaying they were concerned with the near champions elect attack and barely uttered a serious advance. Near the half hour mark the Köln ‘keeper stood tall as he stopped Felipe Santana’s header via a corner from Nuri Şahin. Despite Köln’s noteworthy defending, it was only “time” until the Dortmunders when on top and a minute shy of the break, former Lech Poznań man Robert Lewandowski latched onto Nuri Şahin lofted pass and after a controlling nudge to create space he lashed a left-footed half-volley from the aged of the area to the bottom right corner for the 1-0 lead.

After the break, BVB showed a champion’s composure as they dictated the contest yet unwilling to give up any space to their visitors. Excluding an off-course effort Milivoje Novakovič shy of the hour mark after Mato Jajalo, Köln did not disturb Roman Weidenfeller and it was otherwise a matter of safely killing off balance of time. With seventeen minutes remaining in regulation, the BVB tactician injected pace into the line-up with Jakub Błaszczykowski entering for Kevin Großkreutz and his side continued to press for an insurance marker but Köln goalkeeper Michael Rensing was having a career highlight gave and continuously voided their efforts. Following a Lucas Barrios chip that rasped the ball off the woodwork with just over ten minutes remaining, Nuri Şahin did the same from a probing effort from outside the area and though they were unable to extend the margin, they were pleased with the three points coming from the 1-0 victory.

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The Author: John Davies is available on his personal page on Facebook, Twitter with his business leadership and motivational video logs on his YouTube channel. In addition to writing for Europa League News, his Football reports appear for pre-eminent Russian media outlet Sports-Express (Спорт-Экспресс), the legendary Spartak Moscow.

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Die Grün-Weißen rebounded from their opening week loss in the hinrude to 1899 Hoffenheim with a flourishing 4-2 triumph over Köln at the Weserstadion, courtesy of Austrian international Marko Arnautović two goals.

Thomas Schaaf, juggling his line-up from the opening day of the Bundesliga, summoned Marko Arnautović, Sebastian Boenisch and German international Marko Marin into the starting eleven for Petri Pasanen, Aaron Hunt and Hugo Almeida. Die Geißböcke, who succumbed to Kaiserslautern in match day one, saw manager Zvonimir Soldo make one change to his line-up with Kevin Pezzoni entering for Youssef Mohamad.

After an adventurous start, Werder got the break they were looking for when match-day referee Marco Fritz adjudged Petit a penalty for fouling Marko Marin in the area. Without fail, Torsten Frings stepped up to the spot and hammed the ball into the back of the net to give Werder the 1-0 lead. A scant three minutes later, Wien-native Marko Arnautović nodded in Claudio Pizzaro’s scrumptious provision to pull the hosts in front by two. If Werder had thoughts of running away with the affair, Lukas Podolski quickly scuttled those plans as he pulled Köln to within a goal a minute later with a fine header of his own. Werder’s efforts were dampened quickly thereafter as Hugo Almeida trotted in for injured Claudio Pizarro five mintues shy of the break.

At the re-start the Köln tactician called upon Fabrice Ehret for Stephan Salger as his side went on the hunt of the leveller. However, Werder was staunch in their defending and met the visitors with a curmudgeonly stance, giving no ground. Sixteen minutes prior to the end of regulation, Werder restored its two-goal margin as Hugo Almeida
re-directed Marko Arnautović cross past Köln goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón. As time wound down, Marko Arnautović added to his impressive day with a goal-bound drive from thirteen metres and though Kevin McKenna notched a consolation marker in the third minute of added-time for the visitors, nothing could deter Werder Bremen’s celebration as they laid claim to a 4-2 victory.

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The United States kept alive its hopes of advancing to the World Cup round of the sixteen as they came from behind to play Slovenia to a 2-2 draw in Johannesburg. With the result and in conjunction with England’s draw with Algeria, Group C will come down to the final contests as Slovenia holds down the top spot with four points with England and the US level two points off and the Algerian’s trailing with a single.

In a tale of two halves, Slovenia came out confident taking a two goal lead before the break only to see the American’s fight back powerfully for a draw. Matjaž Kek’s men came out quickly and jumped in front two minutes shy of quarter-hour when Auxerre’s Valter Birsa sent a booming effort from thirty metres that US ‘keeper Tim Howard could only watch into the top right corner of the net. The American’s, fighting for a spot in the round of sixteen, fought back amiably but saw Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovič stop José Francisco Torres quality effort. After Mišo Brečko attacking quickly to snuff out a seemingly goal bound effort via the creativity of Clint Dempsey, the Slovenian’s went in front 2-0 at the forty-second minute. Initiated via Köln’s Milivoje Novakovič exquisite dissection of the US defenders, Zlatan Ljubijankič slid the ball under Tim Howard from what looked to be decisive goal.

Coming out with a fire in their belly, the American’s surged forward and three minutes after the break Landon Donovan surged through the right side of the area, taking advantage of Boštjan Cesar’s slip and powerful drove the ball to the roof of the net to halve the margin. The affair was now one-way traffic, with Slovenia holding dearly to its lead until eight minutes remaining when Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Michael Bradley, from close range, sent in Jozy Altidore’s provision to square the match. The match was not without controversy as in the dying moments Landon Donovan’s in-swinging free-kick was volleyed into the net Maurice Edu only to see match day referee Koman Coulibaly curiously disallow the goal. Following a late chance by Milivoje Novakovič was stopped by Tim Howard, the match concluded as a 2-2 draw, honours even.

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Werder Bremen continued its climb towards a Champions League spot with a 1-0 victory over Köln at Weserstadion via an added time strike by Torsten Frings. With the result, Werder maintains third in the Bundesliga, whilst Köln nestles in at the twelfth spot.

From the opening whistle, Köln locked down the affair with a compact defensive stance to which Werder showed little ability to unlock. Just past the half-hour, Köln goalkeeper Thomas Kessler made a top shelf stop Claudio Pizarro’s header off Mesut Özil and then dealt with Torsten Frings’ effort from the rebound. For the balance of the half, the visitors shut down Werder’s efforts and the match went to the break scoreless.

After the break, Werder continued to push forward but once again the young ‘keeper shone brightly with sublime saves on Naldo and Marco Marin. Hugo Almeida, who had come in for Aaron Hunt at the break, came close with an effort the whisked over the crossbar at the hour. With eighteen minutes remaining, Milivoje Novakovič accepted Fabrice Ehret’s cross and sent it off the crossbar. Looking like the match was going to end as a draw, Werder got the break they were waiting for as Pedro Geromel was shown a red-card for handling the ball at the line and a penalty was awarded. In the subsequent effort, Torsten Frings converted from the spot to give the Grün-Weißen the 1-o victory.
Werder Bremen continued its climb towards a Champions League spot with a 1-0 victory over Köln at Weserstadion via an added time strike by Torsten Frings. With the result, Werder maintains third in the Bundesliga, whilst Köln nestles in at the twelfth spot.

From the opening whistle, Köln locked down the affair with a compact defensive stance to which Werder showed little ability to unlock. Just past the half-hour, Köln goalkeeper Thomas Kessler made a top shelf stop Claudio Pizarro’s header off Mesut Özil and then dealt with Torsten Frings’ effort from the rebound. For the balance of the half, the visitors shut down Werder’s efforts and the match went to the break scoreless.

After the break, Werder continued to push forward but once again the young ‘keeper shone brightly with sublime saves on Naldo and Marco Marin. Hugo Almeida, who had come in for Aaron Hunt at the break, came close with an effort the whisked over the crossbar at the hour. With eighteen minutes remaining, Milivoje Novakovič accepted Fabrice Ehret’s cross and sent it off the crossbar. Looking like the match was going to end as a draw, Werder got the break they were waiting for as Pedro Geromel was shown a red-card for handling the ball at the line and a penalty was awarded. In the subsequent effort, Torsten Frings converted from the spot to give the Grün-Weißen the 1-o victory.

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Serbian international Zoran Tošić led Köln to a 2-0 victory over relegation threatened VfL Bochum at RheinEnergieStadion. With the result, Köln sits comfortably in the eleventh spot of the Bundesliga table, whilst Bochum rests a point above Hannover 96 in the drop zone.

Köln dictated the early run of the play with Milivoje Novakovič unable to capitalize on early chances. At the quarter-hour the former Partizan man accepted Taner Yalçın’s before circumventing ‘keeper Philipp Heerwagen and sending the ball in from close range. With the lead, Zvonimir Soldo’s were resolute in defending and calmly absorbing the Bochumers efforts through to the break.

Knowing a victory was needed, Bochum turned up the attacking heat after the break but once again, Köln absorbed the pressure and barely allowed a menacing attempt near ‘keeper Faryd Mondragón. After the hour the hosts began to carve out some opportunities as desperation set in with the Bochumers. After a number of chances came up empty, die Geißböcke doubled the margin with twelve minutes remaining in regulation time as Zoran Tošić played a slick one-two with Adam Matuszczyk through the left channel and drove the ball into the net. Bochum threw forward in the remaining time but they were unable to find the mark and the match ended 2-0 in Köln’s favour.

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Hertha Berlin put up a mighty front in their bid to avoid relegation with a dominant 3-0 victory over Köln at the RheinEnergieStadion. With the result, the Berliners climb to within three points of SC Freiburg in the final relegation spot, whilst Köln is thirteenth in the table is at thirteenth position.

Friedhelm Funkel’s side went in front five minutes shy of half-hour as Raffael latched onto the rebound of a Adrián Ramos effort before surging in through the right channel and driving the ball in from seven metres. Köln came close to levelling but after their efforts fell short, Raffael, from five metres out, sent in Lukasz Piszczek provision after a long cross from the right. Following the second goal the hosts advances slowed considerably and with seventeen minutes remaining, Youssef Mohamad received his second yellow-card, forcing Köln to play a man down. Cícero sent the resulting free kick in from just outside the area as the Berliners eased towards the victory. With three minutes left, Zoran Tošić received two rapid fire yellow-cards, forcing Köln to finish the match with nine men, however it made no difference as Hertha Berlin claimed the 3-0 victory.

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A late strike by Maniche, thanks to fine play making work of Zoran Tošić, provided Köln an important 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Rheinischen Derby at RheinEnergieStadion. The result leaves the respective sides at the twelfth and thirteenth spots in the Bundesliga table, still too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

After the visiting side showed some solid attacking vision, Köln narrowly missed opened the scoring when Milivoje Novakovič had a good opportunity but the normally reliable was unable to finish. The play of both sides seemed to reflect their bottom section of table, quality enough to stay above the drop but lacking in inspiration. Prior to the break, Gladbach was willing to soak up their host pressure and for the most part neither ‘keeper was disturbed through to the break.

After the break the match was lacking in attacking vision until five minutes shy of the hour when Borussia Mönchengladbach took the 1-0 lead. Receiving the ball on the left flank, Marco Reus out ran defender Pedro Geromel as he turned towards the centre of the pitch before firing the ball to the left bottom corner from just outside the area to give Borussia Mönchengladbach the 1-0 lead. In the hunt for the levelling mark, host manager Zvonimir Soldo summoned Sebastian Freis into the content six minute after the hour as he went with an extra attacker. With eleven minutes left in regulation former Partizan man Zoran Tošić pulled in the opposition defenders near the right byline before crisply sending the ball to Maniche, who subsequently drove the ball to the top right corner of the net to bring the match to final 1-1 draw, honours even.

Köln returns to play next Saturday as they visit Hannover 96 at Niedersachsenstadion, whilst Borussia Mönchengladbach welcomes Hamburg SV to Borussia-Park the following day.

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Mainz continued its impressive play since winning promotion to the top flight of German football with a 1-0 win over Köln before their supporters at Stadion am Bruchweg. With the win, Thomas Tuchel’s side are in the hunt for a berth in the Europa League at seventh in the Bundesliga table, whilst Köln, at thirteenth, face a relegation battle after both Hannover and Nürnberg claimed victory on Saturday.

The opening stretches of the match were reasonably cautious, as neither side were willing to expose themselves at the back. Mainz were faced with playing the match a man down three minutes shy of the hour when Aristide Bance was shown a straight red-card for violent conduct aimed at Köln defender Geromel. Despite the man advantage, Köln were showing little attacking venom with nary a scoring chance to note prior the break.

After the re-start, little had changed until four minutes shy of the hour when nineteen year-old Andre Schürrle accepted Chali Amri provision and pounded the ball into the net. Die Geißböcke manager Zvonimir Soldo summoned Serbian virtuoso Zoran Tošić into the match within five minutes as Köln went in the hunt for the equalizer. However, chances by Lukas Podolski and Milivoje Novakovič in the final quarter-hour came up empty as Mainz claimed the full three points with a 1-0 victory.

Mainz returns to play on Saturday as they travel to face Freiburg at the Badenova-Stadion, whilst Köln welcomes Borussia Mönchengladbach to the RheinEnergieStadion in a Friday evening clash.

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Köln grabbed an important point as they played Bayern München to 1-1 draw at the RheinEnergieStadion. With the result Bayern sit at top of the Bundesliga table, whilst Köln is at the thirteenth spot.

Die Geißböcke started quickly but were unable to break through until the half-hour mark when Lukas Podolski powered a free kick to the back of the net. For the striker, it was sweet revenge after his protracted move last year. However, after the marker Bayern München dominated stretches of the match though they were lacking the final touch. At the fifty-seventh minute German international Bastian Schweinsteiger accepted Thomas Müller’s pass from the right and scored the leveller with a powerful drive to the back of the net. With the match now squared-up, Bayern went on the hunt for the equalizer but after a number of ventures came up for naught the match ended as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

Köln returns to play next Saturday as they visit Mainz at Stadion am Bruchweg. Bayern München travels to face Fiorentina Champions League play on Tuesday before welcoming SC Freiburg to Allianz Arena.

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