Cologne beat Hoffenheim away, break into Bundesliga’s top four | OneFootball

Cologne defeated Hoffenheim 1 x 0 this Friday (3), away from home, and entered the G-4 of the Bundesliga - the German Championship.

Last season, Cologne achieved promotion. For this reason, the club's campaign has been surprising.

Said El Mala scored the only goal at the PreZero Arena just 16 minutes into the first half, to the delight of the visiting fans.

Cologne assumed (at least temporarily) the fourth position, with 10 points - Hoffenheim was in 10th, with seven.

The sixth round of the Bundesliga will also have, for example, Borussia Dortmund x RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt x Bayern Munich.

Player of the match

Said El Mala was the standout, scoring the only goal of the match that secured the victory for Cologne. His decisive shot and overall contribution in the offensive phase made him a constant threat to Hoffenheim's defense.

Intriguing statistic

Despite having 61.3% ball possession and 15 goal attempts, Hoffenheim was not able to score, highlighting Cologne's defensive resilience and strategic efficiency.

What we learned

Cologne's ability to capitalize on counter-attacks was displayed, with Eric Martel orchestrating the midfield and providing the crucial assist. Hoffenheim, despite the ball possession, struggled to convert chances, indicating the need for more precise finishing. The match also highlighted the skill of goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe, who made several important saves to stop Hoffenheim. The atmosphere was electric, with fans on the edge of their seats as tension increased throughout the game. It was a classic display of tactical discipline and opportunistic play from Cologne.

Head-to-head analysis

This victory marks only the second win for Cologne against Hoffenheim in the last 17 encounters, with Hoffenheim historically dominating the matchup with 10 wins and 5 draws.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2025 Getty Images