Borussia lose Rhine Derby 3-1 at 1. FC Köln

Borussia lost 3-1 in the Rhine Derby at 1. FC Köln. Nico Elvedi’s equaliser to briefly make it 1-1 wasn’t enough for Gladbach to get anything out of a game affected by a series of VAR decisions.

In front of 50,000 spectators at a sold-out RheinEnergieStadion, the hosts put on most of the pressure in the first 25 minutes and went ahead early. After VAR intervention, Deniz Aytekin changed a free kick into a penalty after a handball by Manu Koné on the edge of the box. Moritz Nicolas guessed right but was still unable to stop Florian Kainz’s 9th-minute spot kick. The goal gave Köln even more momentum, but the Foals, who rode their luck after their opponents hit the woodwork twice, grew into the game more after around 25 minutes. Köln though remained the more dangerous side and the Foals failed to create any clear-cut opportunities.

In the second half, Borussia clearly improved and initially managed to prevent most Köln attacks. Nico Elvedi headed home Franck Honorat’s corner to equalise in the 63rd minute. As the match moved into its closing stages, the talking points began to pile up. Firstly, Manu Koné was shown the red card for serious foul play after VAR intervention. A few minutes later, Köln were awarded a second penalty after a foul by Nicolas. Gladbach’s goalkeeper saved in the first instance, but VAR again got involved and spotted that Nicolas was off his line when Kainz struck the ball. Kainz made no mistake at the second time of asking and made it 2-1 in the 76th minute. Luca Waldschmidt wrapped the game up at 3-1 in injury time.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Gerardo Seoane made three changes to his starting eleven from the 2-2 draw against Mainz 05 from before the international break. Marvin Friedrich came in for the injured Ko Itakura (ankle inflammation). He, Nico Elvedi and Max Wöber made up the back three in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Franck Honorat (right) and Luca Netz (left) started as wing-backs. Manu Koné replaced Rocco Reitz in midfield, where he played alongside Julian Weigl and Florian Neuhaus. Alassane Plea was this time supported by Tomáš Čvančara in attack, with Jordan beginning on the bench.

As well as Ko Itakura (ankle inflammation), Hannes Wolf (meniscus tear in right knee), Jonas Omlin (shoulder operation), Yvandro Borges Sanches (thigh muscle injury) and Tony Jantschke (muscle issues) were all unavailable due to injury.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

9’: Köln take the lead. Koné blocks a long-range effort with his arm on the edge of the penalty area. Aytekin originally gives a free kick, but VAR changes it to a penalty. Kainz makes no mistake and converts for 1-0.

13’: Chabot heads the ball onto the bar after a corner.

21’: First effort from the Foals! Honorat is played in on the right after a quick counterattack, moves towards goal and goes himself, but his shot is well over the Köln crossbar.

41’: Nicolas saves with his fingertips. Waldschmidt aims for the far corner but Nicolas stretches and just turns the ball onto the inside of the post.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

63’: Borussia equalise! Honorat aims a corner from the left side towards the near post, where Elvedi climbs highest and heads the ball into the far corner for 1-1.

72’: Early bath for Koné! The Frenchman clearly fouls Ljubicic on the right flank. Aytekin initially gives a yellow card, but VAR intervenes and, after viewing the footage, Aytekin changes his mind and whips out the red.

76’: Köln take the lead again! After a foul from Nicolas, the hosts are awarded their second penalty. Nicolas saves, but VAR says that Gladbach’s goalkeeper was off his line. Kainz buries his second chance in the bottom left corner for 2-1.

90’: The decisive goal. Waldschmidt receives the ball on the left of the penalty area, picks out the far corner and makes it 3-1.

STATISTICS

Köln: Schwäbe – Carstensen, Hübers (Kilian 79’), Chabot, Paqarada – Ljubicic, Martel – Maina (Alidou 73’), Kainz (Huseinbašić 89’), Waldschmidt – Selke (Tigges 88’) // Unused substitutes: Köbbing, Schmitz, Heintz, Uth, Olesen

Borussia: Nicolas – Elvedi, Friedrich, Wöber – Honorat (Hack 79’), Weigl, Netz (Scally 46’) – Koné, Neuhaus (Reitz 46’) – Plea (Ngoumou 79’), Čvančara (Jordan 79’)  // Unused substitutes: Olschowsky, Chiarodia, Herrmann, Kramer

Goals: 1-0 Kainz (9’ (p)), 1-1 Elvedi (63’), 2-1 Kainz (76’ (p)), 3-1 Waldschmidt (90’)

Yellow cards: Nicolas, Scally

Red cards: Koné (serious foul play)

Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out)

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)