Gladbach claim derby spoils at Cologne

Cologne 1-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 0-1 Plea (14’), 0-2 Lainer (16’), 0-3 Stindl (pen, 56'), 1-3 Rexhbecaj (84')

Although both local rivals came into the weekend yet to win in the league this season, Gladbach began this 91st Bundesliga Rhine derby very much like the team in form. The encounter was only four minutes old when Hofmann found himself through one-on-one but was denied by local boy and captain on the day Timo Horn in the Cologne goal. The Borussia midfielder had just received his first senior Germany call-up and continued to put on a show with a quick-fire pair of assists. First, he ran in behind onto a long ball before turning and teeing up Plea for his first goal of the campaign. Only two minutes later, he swung in a corner that right-back Lainer met with a run across the front post, flicking his header past Horn to double the advantage for the away side. The Billy Goats struggled to pose a threat going forward, but were handed a golden chance to cut the deficit when Yann Sommer miscontrolled a bouncing ball. It landed at the feet of Sebastian Andersson, but the new signing could only put his effort against the base of the post.

It was very much the same pattern of play after the break. Florian Neuhaus had a shot from a narrow angle saved before Stindl’s follow-up was kept out by a combination of legs from defenders and goalkeeper. There was no denying Stindl from the spot, though, the Gladbach captain coolly converting after Marcus Thuram had been taken down by Kingsley Ehizibue in the box. The home side finally registered a shot on target with six minutes remaining when Elvis Rexhbecaj's left-footed strike from 20 yards flew past Sommer for a late consolation as the Billy Goats remain without a point after three games. The win is the first of the campaign for Marco Rose’s Gladbach, coming a day after learning they will face Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group B of the UEFA Champions League following the international break.

• This was the third time Hofmann had bagged a brace of assists in the Bundesliga, but the first since October 2018.
• Stindl got his fourth Bundesliga goal against Cologne. He’s only scored more against Werder Bremen, Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim. The Gladbach skipper has converted his last three penalties in the Bundesliga, having missed his first two.
• The Foals have recorded more wins (51) and scored more goals (180) against Cologne than any other Bundesliga opponent. They have also won 11 of their last 15 derby clashes with the Billy Goats.
• Cologne are winless in 13 Bundesliga matches - a run that began on 11 March 2020 with a 2-1 defeat at Gladbach. It was the first behind-closed-doors fixture in Bundesliga history.
• This was Cologne's 200th home defeat in the Bundesliga. The visiting team with the most wins is arch-rivals Gladbach (25).
• Cologne have started a Bundesliga season without a win in the first three matchdays for the 11th time. In the previous 10 seasons, they finished 16th or lower on nine occasions.

Watch: Hofmann: "It's not just us that are happy, but our fans"

Cologne: T. Horn (c) – Bornauw, Sörensen, Czichos (Wolf 46’) – Ehizibue (Limnios 66’), Duda (Thielmann 77’), Skhiri (Höger 86’), Rexhbecaj, J. Horn – Drexler (Arokodare 77’), Andersson
Unused subs: Zieler, Katterbach, Özcan, Cestic
Out: Hector (neck), Jakobs (muscular), Kainz (knee), Mere (match fitness), Modeste (knee)
Coach: Markus Gisdol

Gladbach: Sommer – Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Kramer, Neuhaus – Thuram (Herrmann 69’), Stindl (c) (Wolf 77’), Hofmann (Traore 88') – Plea (Embolo 88')
Unused subs: Sippel, Lang, Wendt, Jantschke, Reitz
Out: Benes (ankle), Beyer (not included), Lazaro (calf), Poulsen (shoulder), Villalba (muscular)
Coach: Marco Rose