Köln away review

Hoffenheim played with their favoured 4-4-3 formation. Chinedu Obasi and Knowledge Musona started on the bench, with Peniel Mlapa restored to the starting line-up. Otherwise, manager Holger Stanislawski kept with the team that defeated Wolfsburg last week.

After a ten-minute delay, Köln got the game underway. After a tense opening few minutes, Köln showed why they are the league's best counter-attacking team so far this season. National team star Podolski broke away to set up Milivoje Novakovic, but his cross-cum-shot was gathered by Hoffenheim keeper Tom Starke. The rest of the first half passed with Hoffenheim in the ascendancy, while Köln were content to soak up pressure from the back and hit their opponents on the counter-attack.

And it was from such a counter-attack that the home side made the breakthrough. Podolski broke quickly down the left and his cross picked out Jajalo, who found the bottom corner with a neat finish (20). Hoffenheim, who had held their own in the first half seemed surprised by conceding. Sebastian Rudy came close for the visitors, but his shot from distance was saved by Michael Rensing. In the 43rd minute Köln might have extended their lead as Slawomir Peszko went over in the area after a challenge from Isaac Vorsah, but referee Peter Sippel waved play on.

The second half began in much the same fashion as the first, with Köln on the defensive and Hoffenheim remaining patient in their attempts to break the home side down. When Chinedu Obasi was introduced for Mlapa, 1899 began to enjoy more authority in the game. Ryan Babel and Gylfi Sigurdsson both went close, but the home side still looked dangerous on the counter-attack, and they soon added to their lead. Isaac Vorsah, believing that play had been brought back for an offside decision againt Peszko, inadvertently played Podolski onside, and allowed the Germany striker to run through and make it two (63).

Holger Stanislawski reacted to the setback by bringing on Knowledge Musona for Dominik Kaiser and Sven Schipplock or Roberto Firmino. And his team were unfortunate not to get a reprieve, as Schipplock made his way into the penalty box and was brought down by Sereno, but referee Sippel kept his whistle in his pocket. The last fifteen minutes were characterised by a stubborn Köln defence, as TSG continually tried to force an opening but were denied at the last minute. The last real chance of the game fell to Hoffenheim's form player Babel, but his drive from outside the box flew over the bar. The final whistle arrived and brought Köln a deserved win.

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