45.+2
19:21
Half-time conclusion:
Break in the RheinEnergie Stadium, after 45 minutes it’s a goalless draw between Cologne and Freiburg in an uneventful game! The hosts started relatively courageously, although there were no big chances to score at the beginning. As the game length increased and the rain set in, the guests from Breisgau found their way into the game better, but were unable to find any top-class players. Consequently, the game is certainly not a footballing treat at the moment. At halftime, Effzeh in particular will have to step it up sooner or later. With a point today and a Mainz win tomorrow in Heidenheim, relegation could no longer be averted. A horror scenario that Cologne can only counteract with a win today.
45.+2
19:17
End of 1st half
45.+1
19:16
Official added time (minutes): 1
45.
19:15
With full physical effort, Timo Hübers brings down his opponent Roland Sallai at the right corner of the penalty area. From there, Christian Günter takes the free kick to the second post, where Eric Martel can clear it without any problems. The standard situations on the guests’ side still leave a lot to be desired.
43.
19:13
Things can’t go any further for Julian Chabot. The medical department treats the central defender on the pitch and then accompanies him to the touchline. Former Freiburg player Dominique Heintz will probably come on as a substitute at the break at the latest.
41.
19:12
Waldschmidt plays Thielmann in a central position in front of the opposing penalty area. Thielmann places the ball on his right, perhaps hesitates for a moment too long but still manages to finish. Atubolu can take the low shot to the bottom left corner without any problems.
39.
19:08
By the way, it currently seems as if Chabot could continue playing. The central defender is now running smoothly again and is gritting his teeth. Good news for everyone who likes 1.FC Köln.
36.
19:06
That won’t happen with a home win! Faride Alidou takes courage from 25 meters and shoots with his right foot. The shot lands just next to the corner flag and almost found its way into touch. Goal danger looks different…
34.
19:04
When it comes to moving forward, the home team currently lacks the means to assert themselves against the guests’ densely packed rear team. Christian Streich’s team falls into a 5-3-2 system against the ball and cleverly condenses the spaces. Lucas Höler, who is not in the position, is particularly keen on taking on a duel in the center.
31.
19:01
Hardly anything happened in front of the two goals in the last few minutes. The Cologne team’s last graduation was quite a while ago now. Given the playing time, there is certainly no cause for concern, but an initial observation.
28.
18:58
There are already signs of a first change on the part of Cologne. Central defender Chabot repeatedly grabs the back of his left thigh after a clearance in his own box. The first worry lines appear on coach Timo Schulz’s forehead as he sends Heintz to warm up.
25.
18:55
The home team’s duel behavior was right in these opening minutes. Luca Waldschmidt pushes hard on the opponent’s baseline and wins the ball against Yannick Keitel. Even if there is no danger of scoring afterwards, applause erupts from the stands.
22.
18:52
Freiburg is becoming more dangerous! After Eggestein wins the ball, Sallai is released in a central position in front of the box. The Hungarian has small problems receiving the ball and is therefore unable to place the shot properly – the low shot whizzes past the box a few meters to the left.
21.
18:51
After a throw-in on the right side, Lukas Kübler hits a cross directly into the Cologne penalty area. Vincenzo Grifo comes to the header at the second post, but puts it about a meter next to the left post. A first offensive accent from the guests.
18.
18:49
Atubolu has to intervene for the first time! Following a corner kick from the left side, the ball falls to Thielmann’s feet in front of the penalty area. The Cologne attacker takes measurements with his left full instep, Martel also gives the low shot a change of direction with his heel. However, the visitors’ goalkeeper is wide awake and fishes the ball out of the bottom right corner!
17.
18:47
In the initial phase, the picture that was expected in advance appears. The Effzeh starts offensively, the Effzeh wants, the Effzeh has to. The guests, on the other hand, remain patient and wait for their opportunities. The bottom line is that it’s certainly not a bad start for 1.FC Köln.
14.
18:45
There is also the first corner on the other side. Captain Christian Günter pulls the ball sharply towards the first post, but it gets stuck there directly to Timo Hubers. We’ve seen this better from Freiburg.
12.
18:42
Freiburg is slowly but surely finding its way into the game and now has significantly more possession of the ball. At the moment it mostly takes place in your own half, where it only hurts the eff toe a little. Christian Streich knows that his team also has to be patient today.
9.
18:39
Luca Waldschmidt takes the first corner of the game from the left side into the Freiburg penalty area. The ball slips onto the second post, where Vincenzo Grifo can clear it for the time being. The Cologne backline also managed to stifle the Freiburg counterattack in time.
7.
18:36
The Effzeh starts boldly and runs relatively high towards the Breisgauer. This puts the guests under pressure early on in the build-up to the game. Certainly not exactly a low-risk approach. But Timo Schulz’s team doesn’t have much else left.
4.
18:34
The first goal of the game goes to the hosts! Full-back Max Finkgräfe can get past two opponents on the left of the penalty area and then passes for Linton Maina. However, its end with the right inside misses the right corner of the Freiburg housing by about a meter.
3.
18:33
After Günter fouled Thielmann, referee Storks awarded a free kick to 1.FC Köln on the right. Former Freiburg player Waldschmidt takes care of the matter and flicks the ball to the second post. However, Atubolu in the guests’ box is wide awake and plucks the ball out of the air.
1.
18:30
The ball is rolling! The guests from Freiburg will be wearing black and gray away kit, the Cologne team will be playing in white jerseys.
1.
18:30
Game start
18:20
Today’s game will be officiated by referee Sören Storks. He is assisted on the sidelines by Thorben Siewer and Christian Bandurski.
18:10
Kick-off is getting closer and closer, and the tension is rising. The Effzeh is fighting for survival today and is almost forced to win after the latest results. In the event of a defeat, the seventh relegation in the club’s history could be confirmed tomorrow. On the other hand, SC Freiburg is in the middle of the fight for international places. With FC Augsburg, TSG Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen, the Breisgauers have several pursuers on their backs. Even if sixth place would be enough to take part in the Europa League again, SC Freiburg still needs to pick up a point or two. An encounter that is extremely important for both teams.
17:59
On the host side, coach Timo Schulz is relying on a 4-2-3-1 system today. Compared to the draw in the relegation clash at FSV Mainz 05, the Effzeh coach has decided not to make any major changes and is only changing one position. Linton Maina moves into the starting lineup for Steffen Tigges and works on the left side of the attack. The starting situation for Cologne is clear: only a win counts today to keep the dream of staying in the league alive. A similar performance to the last home game, a desolate 0-2 defeat against SV Darmstadt, would probably seal relegation.
17:49
The guests from Freiburg are expected today in the usual 3-4-2-1 system. However, compared to the home defeat against VfL Wolfsburg last week, coach Christian Streich has to change to two positions. Kiliann Sildillia is missing from the three-man chain and is suspended for the rest of the season and will be replaced today by Lukas Kübler. Nicolas Höfler is also missing from midfield, with Lucas Höler moving into the starting line-up in his place. In what is currently a mixed phase for the Breisgauers, things have been looking pretty good abroad recently. SCF won all of their last three away games. Number four would certainly be helpful in the fight for Europe.
17:39
Long before kick-off, the tension in Cologne-Müngersdorf is huge. The Effzeh still has three finals in the fight to stay in the league. The first of these takes place today in front of the home crowd against SC Freiburg. After the overall disappointing results against their competitors from Darmstadt and Mainz, Timo Schulz’s team is doomed to win – the gap to the relegation spot is already a whopping five points for the penultimate place in the table! The guests from Breisgau, who are in the middle of the fight for the international places, could give Cologne the death knell today. Quite explosive conditions for the game at prime time on Saturday evening…
Welcome to the 32nd matchday of the Bundesliga! At 6:30 p.m. 1.FC Cologne will face SC Freiburg in their RheinEnergie Stadium.