Cologne battle to first point of the season at Hannover

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Cologne finally got their season underway following five consecutive defeats with a hard-fought draw at promoted Hannover, who remain unbeaten back in the top flight.

Hannover 0-0 Cologne

Unbeaten Hannover almost had the perfect start only minutes into the game when Ihlas Bebou found space in the box on his first Bundesliga start, but the Togo international got his header all wrong from Kenen Karaman’s cross. The chances were coming thick and fast for the hosts, and really should have been in front inside the opening ten minutes as Bebou turned provider, but Niklas Füllkrug somehow managed to put the ball the wrong side of the post from 5 yards out. Cologne’s Jhon Cordoba put an effort into the side-netting, but Hannover remained on top and on the half-hour mark Salif Sane crashed a header against the bar. The Billy Goats managed a sustained period of pressure before the break through a number of set pieces, but Andre Breitenreiter’s Hannover were the only team that looked likely to score in the first half.

Cologne came out with more intent in the second half and really should have opened the scoring through right-back Lukas Klünter after U19 Fritz Walter Medal winner Salih Özcan slipped him in, but the full-back fluffed his lines in front of goal. Clear-cut chances remained a premium following that. Sane did test Timo Horn with a free-kick from 25 yards, but it was never enough to beat the Billy Goats’ keeper as the visitors held on for their first point of the season.

Line-ups

Hannover: Tschauner (c) - Korb, Sane, Anton, Ostrzolek - Schwegler (Schmiedebach 81') - Bakalorz, Karaman - Harnik, Bebou (Benschop 89') - Füllkrug (Klaus 78')
Coach: Andre Breitenreiter

Cologne: Horn - Sörensen, Maroh, Heintz - Klünter, Lehmann (c), Özcan, Rausch - Osako (Guirassy 76'), Bittencourt (Jojic 88') - Cordoba (Höger 84')
Coach: Peter Stöger

Match stats

    Hannover have extended their club record by going unbeaten in their six matches in a Bundesliga campaign.Cologne have avoided defeat for the first time this season but this is still their worst start to a Bundesliga season.Hannover have failed to win a home game under Breitenreiter for the first time following seven previous victories. They are still yet to concede.Cologne are winless in 11 away games in the Bundesliga, and have failed to score in four away trips this term, losing the previous three.Hannover have kept nine clean sheets in a row at home – a club record.Breitenreiter’s men have still only conceded just two goals this season, both from set-pieces.

Click here for the Hannover vs. Cologne Match Centre