2. Bundesliga - 27. Matchday

1. FC Köln secured a hugely important win against SC Paderborn after the return to action following the international break. After Marvin Schwäbe saved Raphael Obermair’s penalty, Paderborn went ahead through Marvin Mehlem. Felix Götze’s own-goal meant that the game was level at the break. Denis Huseinbašić earned FC a hard-fought three points thanks to a deflected strike in the 61st minute.

Team news

Lukas Kwasniok opted for three alterations to the line-up from the win against Kaiserslautern. Laurin Curda, Martin Ens and Ilyas Ansah made way for Tjark Scheller, Casper Terho and Sven Michel.

Gerhard Struber made five changes to the side that started against Darmstadt. Timo Hübers, Dominique Heintz, Jusuf Gazibegović, Florian Kainz and Steffen Tigges were replaced by Leart Paçarada, Joël Schmied, Denis Huseinbašić, Tim Lemperle and Imad Rondić.

Level at the break

Paderborn started the better of the two sides in Ostwestfalen. Aaron Zehnter and Filip Bilbija were at the heart of all that was good for the hosts, with the latter being denied by Max Finkgräfe’s last-ditch tackle. Zehnter’s cross was headed over the bar powerfully by Felix Götze, with FC limited in attack to start the game.

After a Joël Schmied foul on Sven Michel, Frank Willenborg wasted no time in pointing to the penalty spot. Raphael Obermaier, usually confident from 12 yards, stepped up and was denied by Marvin Schwäbe. However, 10 minutes later, Paderborn did go ahead. Bilbija teed up Marvin Mehlem, who left namesake Schwäbe helpless from close range.

The goal seemed to wake up Gerhard Struber’s side. Imad Rondić was denied by Manuel Riemann, who also did well to deal with Tim Lemperle’s chip. Rondić headed against the post from a Leart Paçarada free-kick but it would be third time lucky fort he Bosnian forward. He was quickest to react from Max Finkgräfe’s shot and forced home in the 43rd minute, with the help of Felix Götze.

Huseinbašić with the winner

The second-half started with FC on top. Imad Rondić had two early sighters at goal in the opening minutes but twice failed to find the target at the front post. The hosts replied with another good chance for Bilbija but he headed over from six yards out.

FC then took the initiative and went ahead. Some wonderful work by Luca Waldschmidt on the edge of the area saw him work the space to thread the ball to Denis Huseinbašić, who took on the shot from 14 yards. A helpful deflection saw the ball trundle into the back of the net and saw the Bosnian international wheel away in celebration.

The game went back and forward in the final 20 minutes, with Paderborn trying to find an equaliser. It took another superb stop from Marvin Schwäbe to deny Adriano Grimaldi in the depths of added time. Finally, after what felt like an age, the final whistle went and FC were able to celebrate three big points.

FC move top of the table with the win and, crucially, five points clear of SC Paderborn in third position. Gerhard Struber’s side are next in action on Saturday, 5^th April against Hertha BSC. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION is at 20:30 CEST.

Line-ups

SC Paderborn (3-4-1-2): Riemann – Scheller, Götze (Ansah 78‘), Hoffmeier – Obermair, Mehlem (Klaas 71‘), Castaneda, Zehnter – Bilbija (Hansen 62‘) – Terho (Grimaldi 62‘), Michel.

1. FC Köln (3-4-1-2): Schwäbe – Schmied, Martel, Paçarada – Thielmann (Telle 81‘), Olesen, Huseinbašić (Kainz 74‘), Finkgräfe (Özkan 90‘) – Waldschmidt – Rondić, Lemperle (Tigges 81‘).

Goals: 1:0, Mehlem 34‘. 1:1, Götze OG 42‘. 1:2, Huseinbašić 61‘.

Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück).

Booked: Schwäbe (7‘), Bilbija (51‘), Michel (69‘), Kwasniok (90+3‘), Riemann (90+6‘).

Attendance: 15,000 (sold-out).