KOE Cologne Cologne - WOB Wolfsburg Wolfsburg
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74 %Linton Maina
0:18
Watch: Maina talks about his goal
Full-time: Cologne 1-0 Wolfsburg
© IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images
Full-time
0:24
Watch: El Mala goes close!
90'
+ 5
Was that the chance?
The Cologne players celebrate like Schwäbe's just won them a cup final after their captain sticks out a boot to deny Daghim a certain equaliser.
90'
+ 3
Schwäbe to the rescue!
Cologne get themselves into a real mess at the back. Shiogai tries to take advantage of the miscommunication, but Schwäbe reads the danger and is out quickly to block at his near post.
90'
+ 1
Gerhardt off
Gerhardt flies into Krauß as the fourth official's board indicates five added minutes. That's the ex-Cologne midfielder's final action, with Aaron Zehnter sent on his stead for the remainder.
90'
+ 1
Substitution
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
88'
End product lacking
Daghim frees Pejčinović, who fires tamely at Schwäbe from a central position inside the Cologne area. Wolfsburg come again with Shiogai, who shanks his 18-yard strike into the crowd. It's just been one of those nights for the visitors...
86'
Fresh legs
Another pair of Cologne changes. Lund and Ache, who've worked their socks off - much like every player in red and white - head off. Rav van den Berg and 19-year-old Youssoupha Niang are sent on.
86'
Substitution
86'
Substitution
Time running out
© IMAGO/Vitalii Kliuiev
80'
Third Wolfsburg booking
Jenz gets a ticking-off for a foul on Thielmann. It has been a little scrappy from both sides in the second half.
79'
El Mala!
The Cologne teenager darts in off the left before trying to nestle one inside the far post, but it goes just wide. He really got the home fans going there!
76'
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Danish winger Jesper Lindström replaces Wimmer and Saël Kumbedi is on for right-back Fischer in a pair of like-for-like Wolfsburg substitutions. Kwasniok also rolls the dice, with young talent Saïd El Mala and Jan Thielmann on in place of Wolfsburg loanee Kamiński and goalscorer Maina.
75'
Substitution
75'
Substitution
74'
Substitution
74'
Substitution
73'
Denied!
Sebastian Sebulonsen gets in the way to stop Daghim from sweeping in an equaliser after brilliant build-up play by Wimmer. The Wolfsburg sub just didn't catch his shot cleanly.
71'
Overzealous from the substitute
Shiogai is penalised for barrelling, arms raised, into Lund on halfway. That's the Japanese forward's first booking as a Bundesliga player.
0:24
Watch: Pulled wide!
66'
Caution
After Eriksen goes into the book for a foul on Lund, Cologne head coach Lukas Kwasniok shuffles his pack with the introduction of Ísak Jóhannesson. Marius Bülter, who's worked hard on the left, makes way in attack.
66'
Substitution
64'
Much better from Wolfsburg
Possession (%)
4555
60'
Huge chance!
Pejčinović is played clean through by a brilliant defence-splitting pass from deep, but pulls his left-footed shot wide of the far post. He's kicking himself not to have at least hit the target.
58'
Meaty challenge
Ache's the first player into the book after using too much of his body when jumping to contest an aerial ball with Wolfsburg defender Vavro.
53'
Win Probability
Win Probability
0'
46.4 %
Now
76.4 %
49'
More balanced
Those changes and tactical shift, with Eriksen now in a central role, have galvanised Wolfsburg. They're not allowing Cologne much time on the ball whatsoever.
46'
Attacking changes for the restart
Kento Shiogai makes his second Bundesliga appearance following his January switch from Nijmegen. Adam Daghim - another attacking player - is also sent on. Lovro Majer and Vini Souza make way as the Wolves try to turn this one around.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Substitution
45'
+ 2
Substitution
Half-time: Cologne 1-0 Wolfsburg
© IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO
Half-time
0:29
Watch: Relief for Wolfsburg
40'
Wouldn't have counted
Ache sneaks in behind the Wolfsburg defence to receive a pass, but drags his effort wide. The whistle then sounds for a marginal offside against the Cologne forward.
39'
Asking the questions
Goal attempts
7off target
2on target
4off target
1on target
37'
Lonely furrow
Pejčinović watches on as Wimmer receives a pass into the channel from Eriksen and sends a rising shot past the upright. Wolfsburg's lone striker has barely had a touch in the first half.
33'
All Cologne
The Billy Goats have got their tails up as Maina controls a pass into the box and shoots wide via a deflection. They're finding plenty of joy on the right-hand side at the moment.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
Major Maina!
© IMAGO/Celina Leiers
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Shot speed
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
27'
Off target
Castro-Montes loses possession on the edge of the Cologne area. Wimmer moves the ball across the box for Eriksen, but he drags his effort wide.
25'
Half chance!
Lund's wait for a first Cologne goal goes on as he stoops to head a teasing Bülter cross wide of Grabara's right-hand post. The Billy Goats are looking the more likely right now...
0:15
Watch: Nervy from Schwäbe
23'
Expected Goals
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.56
0.05
0
Goals
17'
Superb save!
Ache connects this time, adjusting his body and heading a left-wing cross goalwards, but Grabara reacts brilliantly to push the ball around the upright.
14'
Chance!
A deep cross from Castro-Montes is headed back into the danger zone by Bülter. Ache's in a great position in the Wolfsburg area, but completely misses his kick, and Wolfsburg can breathe again.
12'
Inside run
Wimmer has the ball at his feet once more, the Wolfsburg attacker drifting inside and trying to feed Majer, whose first touch evades him in front of the Cologne 'D'.
9'
Constant outlet
A few searching passes have already been played in the direction of Wimmer on the Wolfsburg left. Cologne's Sebulonsen has been warned.
7'
Wolfsburg in control
Possession (%)
2971
4'
First opening
Wimmer's allowed to run unchallenged up the left-hand side following a long throw. He gets into the Cologne box, but the angle's against the Austrian and he fires harmlessly over.
2'
Clash of heads
Lund and Jenz collide after challenging for an aerial ball in midfield. Both are undergoing checks, but will be OK to continue.
1'
Here we go!
A big game at the bottom to kick off Matchday 20 - hold on to your hats!
Kick-off!
Jersey watch
Cologne are in white with red stripes and trim; Wolfsburg are dressed in two-tone green. Kick-off is moments away...
Big love in Cologne
'Mer stonn zo dir, FC Kölle' ('We stand by you, FC Cologne') blares out, as is tradition in these parts, with both sets of players now in the tunnel ahead of kick-off.
0:09
Watch: Wolves warming up
He said 'yes'!
Applause around the stadium after a fan takes to the mic to deliver a heartfelt love letter to his partner, culminating in a pitch-side marriage proposal. No way he was going to get a 'no' after that.
Amoura suspended
© IMAGO/Stephan Hahne
Cologne getting the best out of Kamiński
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl
Congested bottom half
Cologne and Wolfsburg are among the six teams looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation zone. A win for either would certainly come as a welcome boost in the fight for survival.
0:08
Watch: The calm before the storm
More on those teams
Cenk Özkacar comes in for Cologne defender Rav van den Berg, while Kristoffer Lund replaces Jan Thielmann in midfield. As for Wolfsburg, Saël Kumbedi and Aaron Zehnter make way in the full-back positions, with Kilian Fischer brought back in and Yannick Gerhardt moving to left-back. Midfielder Max Arnold and forward Lovro Majer also return to the side.
Starting line-up: 1. FC Köln
Cologne subs
Zieler, Van den Berg, Thielmann, El Mala, Huseinbašić, Jóhannesson
Starting line-up: VfL Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg subs
Müller, Koulierakis, Kumbedi, Lindström, Zehnter, Svanberg, Hensel, Shiogai, Daghim
Billy Goats due a win?
© IMAGO/Darius Simka
Daniel Bauer on facing Cologne
© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Jan-Niclas Gro
Lukas Kwasniok on facing Wolfsburg
© IMAGO/Arne Amberg
3:20
Watch: The best comebacks of 2025/26
Wolfsburg's search for consistency
© IMAGO/Stephan Hahne
Bumpy patch for Cologne
© IMAGO/Harry Langer/DeFodi Images
2:03
Watch: Wolfsburg 3-3 Cologne - previous meeting
2:03
Watch: Freiburg 2-1 Cologne - highlights
2:03
Watch: Mainz 3-1 Wolfsburg - highlights
Hello and welcome!
Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 20 fixture between Cologne and Wolfsburg.