Cologne's lean spell continues with Hertha Berlin draw
Relegation-threatened Cologne failed to win for a club record-extending 14th time on home soil in the Bundesliga after being held to a goalless draw by fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin.
In search of a first win at the RheinEnergieStadion since 29 February 2020 and without victory in their last five, Cologne made a spirited start. Marius Wolf - who spent the previous campaign on loan at Hertha - set a new speed record for the current season of 39.42 kmph, but his purposeful forays in the early stages did not translate into meaningful chances. Hertha fared marginally better in the final third as Krzysztof Piatek stung the palms of Timo Horn, before Peter Pekarik sent a fierce effort over from 18 yards. Wolf placed a header from a corner wide, but the most promising opening fell the way of Cologne captain Jonas Hector, who skewed agonisingly wide with the last kick of a keenly contested first half.
Wolf was heavily involved in Cologne's best work after the restart, albeit without seriously testing Alexander Schwolow in the Hertha goal. The introduction of Matheus Cunha - Hertha's six-goal top scorer this term - shifted the initiative back the way of the visitors as the clock ticked past the hour. The Brazilian put a golden chance on a plate for Piatek, but the Poland international could not find the target with only Horn to beat. Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi took the game by the horns with a fierce effort beaten away by Horn, before bending a shot off the woodwork. Hertha's inability to make more of a promising four-on-one in added time summed up the collective misfortune of both sides.
Match stats
- Cologne have now gone six games without a win and as many without scoring in the Bundesliga.
- Cologne's previous game in which they did not concede at home was a 3-0 win over Schalke in February 2020.
- Cologne have scored the third-fewest number of Bundesliga goals this season (27).
- Hertha have recorded only one win in their last six Bundesliga games.
- Cunha is without a Bundesliga goal in five matches.
- Jhon Cordoba scored 37 goals in 86 appearances for Cologne across three campaigns, two of which were in the Bundesliga.
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Line-ups
Cologne: T. Horn - Cestic, Bornauw, Czichos - Ehizibue (Modeste 78'), Skhiri, Hector (c) (Özcan 69'), Jakobs (Horn 79') - Wolf, Drexler (Rexhbecaj 90'+2) - Duda
Unused subs: Zieler, Schmitz, Katterbach, Arokodare, Jakobs, Rexhbecaj, Modeste, Thielmann
Out: Andersson (knee), Kainz (knee), Limnios (not included), Mere (not included), Sörensen (not included)
Coach: Markus Gisdol
Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Stark (c), Alderete, Mittelstädt (Netz 86') - Darida, Tousart, Guendouzi - Lukebakio (Cunha 60'), Cordoba (Redan 86'), Piatek
Unused subs: Jarstein, Leckie, Klünter, Ascacibar, Torunarigha, Netz, Redan, Zeefuik
Out: Boyata (foot), Dilrosun (knee), Löwen (thigh), Ngankam (thigh), Plattenhardt (muscular)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia
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