This zero number was not enough: 1. FC Köln’s seventh relegation from the Bundesliga in just 26 years can hardly be prevented. After the 0-0 draw against SC Freiburg in the third-to-last game of the season, the collapse of the three-time German champions could be sealed on Sunday.
If 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum end in a draw at midday and FSV Mainz 05 win at 1. FC Heidenheim in the evening, Cologne’s last theoretical chance would also be gone. After previous relegations, FC came back four times in the first year and twice in the second year. But FIFA’s transfer ban, which prohibits Cologne from signing players in the summer, makes the mission more difficult than ever.
At Freiburg, coach Christian Streich increased the likelihood of saying goodbye with the third European Cup qualification in a row in his 389th and third-to-last game as SC coach. Eighth place is probably enough this year, Freiburg is currently seventh, the remaining program with games against Heidenheim and at Union seems solvable. However, the Breisgauers missed out on their fourth away win in a row against Streich’s favorite opponent – he didn’t win against anyone more often – and thus a club record. Streich takes a curious statistic with him: In his entire coaching career, he remained unbeaten in top games on Saturday evening, the 58-year-old played eight of them with the SC.
The offensive has been Cologne’s weak point since the start of the season. And in this important game, coach Timo Schultz even started without a regular striker. Davie Selke and Mark Uth were injured, Steffen Tigges and Sargis Adamyan were on the bench. As was captain Florian Kainz again until the 68th minute. Not a striker, but also an offensive force. A classic winger, Faride Alidou, started in the offensive center. But he acted extremely unhappy. Significant scene: After a shot from around 20 meters from a good central position, there was almost a throw-in (35th).
Nevertheless, in contrast to the last two games, the Cologne team at least started forward with courageous play. Linton Maina had a good chance to take the lead in the third minute, but narrowly missed from ten meters. After 17 minutes, Eric Martel dangerously deflected a shot from Jan Thielmann with his heel, but Noah Atubolu in the Freiburg goal could not be outwitted.
The Freiburg team initially didn’t appear in front of the Cologne goal, but when they did, the score was close to 0-1: Vincenzo Grifo headed just wide from five meters in his 200th Bundesliga game for Breisgau (20′). Until the break it was a tough battle without any major excitement in front of either goal. The Cologne spectators noticed that the players were starting to think and cheered on their team with extremely loud chants.
Perhaps driven by this, the Cologne team increased the vehemence of their running after the break as the continuous rain became increasingly heavy. But as is often the case, the resources were lacking. Balls that were captured were quickly lost again; there was too little structure and creativity in Cologne’s attacking efforts. And after almost an hour, defense chief Jeff Chabot, as has almost always been Cologne’s best player in recent weeks, had to leave the field injured. Alidou still had a great chance in the 71st minute, but Atubolu made a strong save with one arm.