Mith their fourth win in a row, hopes for the Champions League are growing at TSG Hoffenheim. The Kraichgauers prevailed 1-0 (0-0) at 1. FC Köln on Sunday evening and remained undefeated against the Rhinelanders in their twelfth game in a row. With 43 points, Hoffenheim climbed up to fourth place in the table at the end of the 25th matchday in the Bundesliga.
Cologne, who suffered their eighth defeat in a row against Hoffenheim, suffered a minor setback in the fight for an international starting place after their third home defeat. In front of 37,500 spectators in the RheinEnergieStadion, Stefan Posch (61st minute) scored the winning goal for Hoffenheim.
It was a deserved win. We could have scored a few more goals. One goal is enough, if you win then you get three points,” said Hoffenheim international David Raum on the DAZN streaming service. Space had given the template to hit. “We’re glad we pulled the thing out. These are these awesome, disgusting victories that make you extremely happy,” said the winger. Cologne’s Anthony Modeste struggled with the missed chances. “There are days when he just doesn’t want to go in,” said the striker, “I think we still played a good game.
The Cologne team, who started with a special jersey (“Stop War”), had to do without their captain Jonas Hector for a short time and presented Jeff Chabot in central defense for the sick Timo Hübers winter signing. In front of the largest crowd of spectators this weekend in the Bundesliga, great emotions were involved even before the game with the expressions of solidarity for Ukraine when John Lennon’s peace anthem “Imagine” was played.
Bebou causes trouble
The guests, who have not lost against Cologne in eleven games and recently celebrated seven wins in a row, also had to do without their sick captain Benjamin Hübner and also strengthened the defensive midfield with Angelo Stiller. Hoffenheim were on guard against Cologne, who were strong at home, and the three-man defense became a five-man chain when Cologne attacked.
In the offensive of the guests it was mostly dangerous on the left side with David Raum. In addition, the fast Ihlas Bebou repeatedly caused unrest in the reorganized Cologne defense, in which newcomer Chabot found his way around well. The Cologne team, on the other hand, struggled in the attacking game. Captain Anthony Modeste hardly had any dangerous scenes and failed in the 41st minute with a great chance, Mark Uth missed a good opportunity after a counterattack and only hit the side netting (36th).
Bebou had the best chance after the break when he headed in from a David Raum cross and hit the post of the Cologne goal. It was the 16th hit against a post or crossbar by Hoffenheim this season. Posch did better in the 61st minute. The defender used another cross from the enormously strong area to make it 1-0 for the guests. It was the seventh assist this season for the young national player.
The hosts were still pushing for an equalizer, but the Kraichgauers didn’t let the deserved victory be taken away from them. Shortly before the end, Florian Grillitsch prevented Cologne’s equalizer from substitute Sebastian Andersson.
