1. FC Köln fell to a 3:1 defeat against Leipzig on Saturday evening. Leipzig took the lead through Assan Ouedraogo before Jan Thielmann levelled. The hosts struck twice before the break through Romulo and David Raum to go into the break ahead. Despite being the better team after the restart, FC failed to find a second goal to turnn things in their favour.
Team news
Ole Werner opted for two alterations after the 1:0 win in Mainz. Assan Ouedraogo and Yan Diomande came in for Xaver Schlager and Antonio Nusa.
Lukas Kwasniok made two changes to the side that started against Wolfsburg last weekend. Rav van den Berg and Kristoffer Lund were replaced by Tom Krauß and Ísak Jóhannesson.
Behind at the break
Leipzig started the game on top and FC required important interventions from Sebastian Sebulonsen, Timo Hübers and Eric Martel to keep the hosts at bay. However, in the 13th minute, they went ahead. A corner from David Raum wasn’t dealt with and Assan Ouedraogo was on hand to pounce from close range and slam into the back of the net.
However, after the goal, FC were the better side. Luca Waldschmidt and Tom Krauß both had efforts blocked on the edge oft he area before the equaliser fell. Ísak Jóhannesson picked out Eric Martel between the lines and his slide-rule pass found Jan Thielmann. He kept his cool against Peter Gulacsi and slammed into the far corner in the 23rd minute.
FC looked to have made it to the break on level terms but Leipzig struck twice in five minutes to swing the game in their favour. Romulo was quickest to react after Marvin Schwäbe saved from Christoph Baumgartner’s near post flick. With the final kick of the first-half David Raum curled in a free-kick from the edge of the area.
No goals in the second-half
The second-half started slowly, with Leipzig enjoying the majority of possession. Their first real opening came in the 59th minute as Yan Diomande ran through on goal, though Marvin Schwäbe was able to save with his foot. At the other end, Sebulonsen produced a cross of real class that Ragnar Ache failed to turn home at the back post.
As the half progressed, FC grew in confidence. Said El Mala had the ball cleared off the line and, less than 60 seconds later, Sebulonsen’s drive from close range fell to the same fate. The latter stages produced little in the way of chances but it was a second-half where FC can take many positives from.
Lukas Kwasniok’s side are next in action on Sunday, 28th September against VfB Stuttgart. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION after two away games is at 17:30 CEST.
Line-ups
Leipzig (4-3-3): Gulacsi – Baku (Nedeljkovic 80‘), Orban, Lukeba, Raum – Ouedraogo (Banzuzi 58‘), Seiwald, Baumgartner (Kampl 90+2‘) – Bakayoko (Harder 80‘), Romulo, Diomande (Maksimovic 90+2‘).
1. FC Köln (4-3-3): Schwäbe – Sebulonsen (Kainz 73‘), Schmied, Hübers, Krauß – Jóhannesson, Martel (Huseinbašić 59‘), Kamiński – Waldschmidt (Maina 59‘), Thielmann (Ache 59‘), Bülter (El Mala 46‘).
Goals: 1:0, Ouedraogo 13‘. 1:1, Thielmann 23‘. 2:1, Romulo 44‘. 3:1, Raum 45+4‘.
Referee: Benjamin Brand (Schwebheim).
Booked: Martel (45+3‘), Baku (70‘).
Attendance: 47,710.