1. FC Köln fell to a 4:0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Saturday afternoon. Despite a solid first hour of the game, a quick Dortmund double secured a deserved win for the visitors.
Team news
Timo Schultz made just one change from the side that started against Heidenheim last time out. The injured Davie Selke was replaced by the returning Dejan Ljubicic.
Edin Terzic opted for two alterations following the 3:0 win over Darmstadt following the restart. Emre Can and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens dropped out for Niklas Süle and Jadon Sancho.
Behind at the break
The opening 10 minutes of the game were even, with Dortmund keen to get Sancho rolling early on. FC were positive in possession, however, and saw Dejan Ljubicic shoot over with the first opportunity of the game.
Just before the fans’ protest against the DFL’s investor plans came to a close, Dortmund opened the scoring. Julian Brandt’s corner somehow found Donyell Malen on the penalty pot, and his effort from 12 yards trundled into the bottom corner.
FC weren’t down by the goal and after a seven-minute delay, were continuing to push forward. Thielmann and Ljubicic were looking dangerous, yet Kobel wasn’t called into action. Marvin Schwäbe was required to deny Niclas Füllkrug from close range, as he stood tall to save from Thomas Meunier’s cutback.
FC unlucky, BVB clinical
The second-half started with two great chances for FC. Jan Thielmann was denied brilliantly by Gregor Kobel one-on-one before Linton Maina’s curler from 25 yards came back out off the inside of the post. Rasmus Carstensen was unable to convert the rebound from close range.
Carstensen was then adjudged to have fouled Sancho inside the penalty area, giving Niclas Füllkrug the chance from 12 yards. The Dortmund striker stepped up and sent Schwäbe the wrong way to double their advantage. A long ball forward from Ian Maatsen then caught FC off guard, allowing Malen to run through on goal and power past the FC custodian.
Just before the full-time whistle sounded, BVB got a fourth. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens picked out Youssoufa Moukoko to poke home from close range. FC are next in action on Saturday 27th January at 15:30 CET. Timo Schultz’s side take on VfL Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-4-2): Schwäbe – Carstensen (Schmitz 88’), Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe – Ljubicic (Diehl 62’), Martel, Huseinbasic, Kainz (Christensen 74’) – Thielmann (Adamyan 88’), Maina (Alidou 62’).
Borussia Dortmund (4-3-3): Kobel – Meunier, Süle (Blank 46‘), Schlotterbeck, Maatsen – Brandt (Reus 67‘), Özcan (Reyna 74’), Sabitzer – Malen, Füllkrug (Moukoko 74‘), Sancho (Bynoe-Gittens 67‘).
Goals: 0:1, Malen 12‘. 0:2, Füllkrug (PEN) 58‘. 0:3, Malen 61‘. 0:4, Moukoko 90+2‘.
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Hügelsheim).
Booked: Meunier (27’), Özcan (35’), Maatsen (82’), Thielmann (85’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).