KOE Köln 1. FC Köln - SCF Freiburg Sport-Club Freiburg

KOE

4

SCF

1

J. Kamiński
35'

RheinEnergieSTADION(MATCHCENTER.STADIUM.SOLDOUT)

Tobias Reichel

DFP.ADVERTISEMENT

57 %Marius Bülter

Marius Bülter

Full-time: Cologne 4-1 Freiburg

A fantastic evening for the Billy-Goats comes to and end as they stroll to all three points. They went into the break 1-0 thanks to Jakub Kamiński's volley from Marius Bülter's cross, and the latter doubled the scoreline after the break. He was again involved for Cologne's third, providing four Jan Thielmann, before Saïd El Mala netted the fourth. Maximilian Eggestein did score a late consolation for Freiburg, but Cologne's three points were never in doubt.

© Lars Baron

LIVETICKER.finalWhistle

90'

+ 6

Over

Krauß tries to add extra gloss to the scoreline from distance, but he can't keep his shot down.

90'

+ 1

Into injury team

There are six minutes for Cologne to get through before they can celebrate.

90'

MaximumSpeed

MaximumSpeed.TOP3

1.

Lukas Kübler34,27km/h

2.

Jakub Kamiński33,61km/h

3.

Jan Thielmann33,48km/h

85'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

85'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

84'

Consolation

Freiburg have one back, as Eggestein heads in a corner. That is the first goal Cologne have conceded in this game.

84'

Maximilian Eggestein

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.goal

4:1

Maximilian Eggestein

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.xGoals.TITLE

xGoals

14 %

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.distanceToGoal.TITLE

distanceToGoal

6,43 m

Four!

Cologne score again, this time through substitute El Mala's fierce strike into the top corner. Atubolu got fingertips on it, but couldn't keep it out.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Meusel

81'

Saïd El Mala

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.goal

4:0

Saïd El Mala

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.xGoals.TITLE

xGoals

8 %

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.distanceToGoal.TITLE

distanceToGoal

15,69 m

80'

Well over

That is a wayward attempt from Günter. It is well over the crossbar.

78'

pressureHandling

pressureHandling

80%

%

Ísak Jóhannesson

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.pressureHandling.UNDER_PRESSURE

76'

Bülter off

A match-winning performance from the summer signing. He has earned a rest and is replaced by a fellow new arrival in Ache.

76'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

75'

Taking the sting out of the game

Cologne remain on top and are seeing this match out quite well at the moment.

70'

Save

A chance for Freiburg as Höler shoots straight at Schwäbe. Something to build on, perhaps.

69'

Two changes each

Cologne bring on a couple of fresh legs for the final 20-or-so minutes of this game, as do Freiburg. Grifo is one of those taken off - it was an unusually quiet day at the office for the Italian.

69'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

Nicolas Höfler

69'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

68'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

Jusuf Gazibegović

Kristoffer Lund

68'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

67'

Almost four

Only a smart stop from Atubolu stops Kamiński from slotting into the corner.

66'

Cruise control

Cologne are dominating this match. Freiburg just don't have any answers right now.

59'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

Denis Huseinbašić

Dreamland

Another for Cologne, and it is surely a long way back for Freiburg now! Thielmann is unmarked in the centre, but it is still a lovely finish as he side-foots into the corner. No chance for Atubolu.

© Lars Baron

57'

Jan Thielmann

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.goal

3:0

Jan Thielmann

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.xGoals.TITLE

xGoals

15 %

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.distanceToGoal.TITLE

distanceToGoal

15,03 m

55'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.yellowCard

55'

ballRecoveryTime

ballRecoveryTime

KOE

SCF

26.8 s

12.6 s

Bülter on fine

That is already two goals and an assist for Bülter this season. He is making an immediate impact for his new club.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Meusel

53'

Tells the story

xGoals.AGGREGATED

As the xGoals suggests, Cologne have been on top in this one.

xGoals

2

1.24

0.2

0

goalsMetricTitle

49'

Mountain to climb

Freiburg are in trouble now, and must make up a two-goal deficit just to get a point.

Two to the good

Cologne have breathing space thanks to a goal akin to the opener! This time, though, Bülter is the goalscorer rather than the provider as he heads Thielmann's cross to the back post into the opposite corner.

© IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images

47'

Marius Bülter

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.goal

2:0

Marius Bülter

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.xGoals.TITLE

xGoals

23 %

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.distanceToGoal.TITLE

distanceToGoal

8,98 m

46'

A sub apiece

Each head coach makes a switch, with Röhl coming on for Dinkçi and Schmied replacing Hübers.

46'

Up and running

Cologne get us underway in the second period.

LIVETICKER.start_secondHalf

45'

+ 5

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

45'

+ 5

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.sub

Half-time: Cologne 1-0 Freiburg

The hosts have a deserved lead at the break. They were the more dangerous of the two sides before the interval and finally had their goal through Jakub Kamiński's volley at the back post. The visitors, meanwhile, have plenty of work to do after the restart.

© Lars Baron

LIVETICKER.end_firstHalf

45'

+ 4

Wide

Sebulonsen doesn't catch his shot on the turn quite right. That might be the final chance of the first half.

45'

+ 4

Freiburg pushing

Schuster's men are pushing for an equaliser before the interval, but to no avail so far.

Happy man

Cologne head coach Kwasniok will be delighted with his team's start to this campaign.

© IMAGO/pepphoto / Horst Mauelshagen

41'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.yellowCard

39'

Cologne on top

The hosts have had plenty more opportunities so far.

goalAttemptsTitle

4goalAttempts_offTarget

3goalAttempts_onTarget

3goalAttempts_offTarget

0goalAttempts_onTarget

38'

Deserved

Cologne have been the better team here. But do Freiburg have an answer before the break?

Cologne lead

The home team have threatened, and they are now in front. After a corner is only partly cleared by Freiburg, and Kamiński is on hand at the back post to volley Bülter's cross past Atubolu.

© IMAGO/Mika Volkmann

35'

Jakub Kamiński

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.goal

1:0

Jakub Kamiński

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.xGoals.TITLE

xGoals

38 %

LIVETICKER.MATCHFACTS.distanceToGoal.TITLE

distanceToGoal

8,26 m

30'

MaximumSpeed

MaximumSpeed.TOP3

1.

Jakub Kamiński32,80km/h

2.

Christian Günter32,75km/h

3.

Eren Sami Dinkci32,43km/h

29'

LIVETICKER.EVENTS.yellowCard

28'

Cologne looking more dangerous

The hosts seem the more likely to score, although Atubolu has only been called into action once so far.

© Lars Baron

23'

Save

Thielmann is unmarked at the back post, but his shot is straight at Atubolu. Either side of him, and we may have had the game's first goal.

19'

Just wide

That wasn't far away from Eggestein!

17'

Comes to nothing

Freiburg are easily able to clear and reset.

16'

Deflected over

Bülter's shot is put behind for a corner. A chance for Cologne to make their mark on this game perhaps?

12'

Freiburg with the lion's share

The visitors have seen the most of the ball, but only have Dinkçi's shot to show for it so far.

possessionTitle

3961

10'

Past the post

Dinkçi tries a speculative effort from distance, but he doesn't catch it quite right and it flies past the post.

Familiar face

Waldschmidt used to play Freiburg between 2018 and 2020. He will have to make an impact against his former side from the bench here though.

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

6'

Over

A first shot of the game as Lund fires over the crossbar. A positive break from the hosts, though.

1'

Up and running

We are underway in Cologne.

LIVETICKER.start_firstHalf

Onto the pitch

The players are making their way onto the field of play. Not long to go until kick-off now.

0:18

Watch: Cologne warm-up

The hosts are going through their final preparations before kick-off.

0:14

Watch: Cologne pitch inspection

The home team have also had a stroll on the turf as they prepare for their Bundesliga return on home soil.

0:20

Watch: Freiburg pitch inspection

The visitors have been onto the pitch in Cologne to get a taste for their surroundings.

Cologne team news

Kwasniok makes two changes to his side, with Joël Schmied and Tom Krauß making way for Rav van den Berg and Denis Huseinbašić. More interestingly, though, the hosts have switched from a three at the back to the defensive four. Let's see how that works out for them here.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl

Freiburg team news

Despite the 3-1 opening day loss to Augsburg, Julian Schuster sticks with the same team. As such, Lucas Höler leads the line, while Philipp Treu is on the bench.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Bosco

MATCHCENTER.LINEUP.TACTICAL_LINEUP: 1. FC Köln

MATCHCENTER.LINEUP.TACTICAL_LINEUP: Sport-Club Freiburg

Three more points after rare away win?

Marius Bülter's late winner at Mainz last weekend means Cologne have already collected as many away victories - one - as they did in their ill-fated 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign. Can they build on that fine start tonight?

© Alex Grimm

Grifo ends Freiburg's spot-kick struggles

Vincenzo Grifo became the first Freiburg player to score from the penalty spot since February 2024 in last weekend's defeat at home to Augsburg. Remarkably, Julian Schuster's side had failed to convert their previous six spot-kicks, with Grifo missing three of those. If the visitors win a penalty this evening, the Italian may be a little more confident of finding the back of the net.

© IMAGO/Steven Mohr

Both sides at full strength

Both coaches are expected to be able to choose from a full complement of players this evening. Ragnar Ache, Florian Kainz and Linton Maina are available for the Billy Goats, while Patrick Osterhage, Igor Matanović, Philipp Treu and Niklas Beste are fit again for the visitors.

Waldschmidt out to haunt the Breisgau club

The former Freiburg striker will hope he can have a similar impact against his old side as he did against Mainz, after assisting Marius Bülter's winning header on Matchday 1. He made 56 appearances for Freiburg between 2018 and 2020. In his six games against his former club, he has won twice, drawn one and lost three, scoring once.

© THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP via Getty Images

Julian Schuster on facing Cologne

"They're very flexible tactically and can also press high. We have to prepare for different approaches. If you've seen their matches and know the club, then you know what to expect on Sunday. They have a new coach and a lot of energy. We'll need to be right on it from the start."

© IMAGO/Pressefoto Rudel/Robin Rudel

Lukas Kwasniok on facing Freiburg

"Freiburg are a team that have done great work over the past years, they're a real danger from set-pieces and the players know what is required of them. If you were to Google "against the run of play" then Freiburg's game against Augsburg would come out. There were obviously a few mistakes but they weren't as bad a people make out. We're looking forward to the game but we want to fans to go home happy as well - we have to deliver for those in the stadium."

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Alexander Neis

2:05

Watch: The infamous snow comeback

Only once in their Bundesliga history have Freiburg come from three goals down to win a game. That was in Cologne in December 2017 in an encounter just as famous for its heavy snowfall.

Glad to have you back

Freiburg have kept clean sheets in each of their last four meetings with Cologne, winning three plus a goalless draw. It's currently their best run without conceding against any team competing in the Bundesliga this season.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Florian Wiegan

Freiburg contrasts

The Black Forest club have won just one of their last seven Bundesliga home games but are unbeaten in seven on their travels - a club record. They have won each of the last three on their travels in the league. Never before have Freiburg managed four straight away wins in the Bundesliga.

© IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEK

Take your chances

Freiburg's xG of 3.04 was the highest of all 18 teams on Matchday 1, but they ended up 3-1 losers to Augsburg for their first loss on Bundesliga opening weekend for seven years. Of their previous 25 campaigns in the top flight, only three have started with two defeats.

© IMAGO/Steven Mohr

A promising start

Lukas Kwasniok is aiming to become the first Cologne coach since Volker Finke in 2011 to win his first three competitive fixtures in charge. Should he do that, it'll be the first time since 2005/06 that the Billy Goats have claimed back-to-back wins to start a Bundesliga season.

© IMAGO/Hasan Bratic/DeFodi Images

Welcome home!

Cologne prepare to play their first home game in the top flight for some 15 months. Their 1-0 win at Mainz made them the first promoted team since Hannover in 2017 to claim three points in their opening Bundesliga game.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Alexander Neis

2:03

Watch: Mainz 0-1 Cologne - last time out

A dramatic late strike from Marius Bülter helped Cologne to secure victory on their return to the Bundesliga against 10-man Mainz.

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 1-3 Augsburg - last time out

Freiburg were caught cold at home on opening weekend after conceding three times in the first half against Augsburg.

2:03

Watch: Cologne 0-0 Freiburg - previous meeting

Cologne slipped closer to the drop after a frustrating goalless draw with Freiburg back in May 2024.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 2 fixture between 1. FC Köln and Sport-Club Freiburg.