1. FC Köln are top of the 2. Bundesliga for Christmas. Dejan Ljubicic’s header secured a 1:0 win against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, sending FC two points clear at the summit.
Team news
Markus Anfang opted for five alterations from the team that lost to Darmstadt last time out. Jan Elvedi, Jan Gyamerah, Afeez Aremu, Erik Wekesser and Jannik Mause came into the side for Almamy Toure, Frank Ronstadt, Filip Kaloc, Florian Kleinhansl and Marlon Ritter.
Gerhard Struber made one change to the side that started the win against 1. FC Nürnberg last weekend. Dominique Heintz missed out through suspension and was replaced by Max Finkgräfe.
Ahead at the break
FC started the game well, especially Linton Maina. His combination of pace and dribbling was causing a real headache for the Lautern defenders early on. His flicked effort was denied by Julian Krahl before another mazy run ended with his crossing into the box. Unfortunately, however, no FC player was there to deflect the ball home.
The best chance of the early knockings came in the 10th minute as Maina made 70 yards before being blocked off. The ball fell perfectly for Max Finkgräfe but he blasted over the bar from 10 yards out. Erik Wekesser and Jan Gyamerah responded in kind but neither wing-back was able to make the most of promising openings.
The game ebbed and flowed towards half-time with both teams keen to come forward in front of a packed-out Fritz-Walter-Stadion. It would be FC who went into the break ahead, however. A well-worked free-kick saw Leart Pacarada, Florian Kainz and Linton Maina combine for the latter to cross for Dejan Ljubicic to head home in the 33rd minute.
FC defend well to secure win
The 51st minute saw FC register the first chance of the second-half. A teasing, low cross from Jan Thielmann saw Damion Downs inches away from diverting in a second goal. The game began to turn in Lautern’s favour, and Jannik Mause was denied by a special Marvin Schwäbe save as the former academy forward rounded the current FC shotstopper.
Gerhard Struber’s side had to dig in and Marvin Schwäbe made a great save to deny Aaron Opoku whilst dealing with any corners and long balls into the box. A late double chance for Linton Maina saw Krahl save twice to prevent FC from sealing the deal late on. Nevertheless, the visitors hung on to secure top spot at Christmas.
FC are next in league action on 17th January 2025 against Hamburger SV. The highlight match of the first weekend of the Rückrunde kicks off at 20:30 CET in the Volksparkstadion.
Line-ups
1. FC Kaiserslautern (3-4-2-1): Krahl – Heuer, Tomiak, Elvedi – Gyamerah (Ritter 78’), Sirch, Aremu (Raschl 63’), Wekesser – Yokota, Hanslik – Mause (Opoku 63’).
1. FC Köln (3-4-1-2): Schwäbe – Hübers, Martel, Pacarada – Thielmann, Ljubicic (Waldschmidt 46’), Huseinbasic, Finkgräfe (Bakatukanda 85’) – Kainz (Uth 89’) – Downs (Tigges 74’), Maina.
Goals: 0:1, Ljubicic 33‘.
Referee: Wolfgang Haslberger (St. Wolfgang).
Booked: Ljubicic (40’), Gyamerah (56’), Heuer (67’), Schwäbe (81’), Maina (90+4’).
Attendance: 49,327 (sold-out).
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