Ten-man Koln heal Dortmund's Klassiker wounds
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 07.03.26. | 22:32
In their first match after a defeat to Bayern and the end of their title hopes, the BVB brushed aside Koln 2-1
The Bundesliga title race most likely ended for Borussia Dortmund last week, when they lost to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker 3-2. However, they still have the second place to defend and a spot in the Champions League to secure, so keeping a serious approach until the end of the season is mandatory. Tonight, Niko Kovac’s men showed the right mindset, brushing aside Koln 2-1.
It’s hard to say whether Dortmund deserved to triumph, as the home team was better in general - especially before the red card Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Manchester City loanee at RheinEnergieStadion, received minutes before the break.
Serhou Guirassy exploited a poor reaction of Koln’s defence in the 16th minute to put BVB in front, but the visitors were far from their usual level. Nevertheless, after the Englishman’s dismissal, it was all much easier.
At the hour mark, Maximilian Beier doubled Dortmund’s lead and sealed the rivals’ fate, securing new three points for his team. The only thing Koln managed to do until the end of the game was Jakub Kaminski’s 88th-minute consolation goal, which made little difference in the end.
Another vital win for Dortmund (©Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)Koln controlled possession and played - Dortmund scored. That's the most brief and precise summary of the first half at RheinEnergieStadion.
Lukas Kwasniok's men threatened twice in the opening five minutes, through Said El Mala and Youssoupha Niang, but Rami Bensebaini's block and Gregor Kobel's stop saved the BVB. In the opening quarter of an hour, the home team took as many as six corner kicks, while the visitors took only one - and scored after it!
Koln players failed to clear the ball from their box properly; their offside trap failed, as Serhou Guirassy avoided it, and broke the deadlock in the 16th minute.
Dortmund's opener didn't dishearten the popular Billy Goats, as they continued pressing the rivals but with no clear chances to score. On the other hand, had it not been for Maximilian Beier's selfishness and Koln's keeper Marvin Schwabe, who stopped Guirassy's dangerous strike, the BVB could have had a more convincing lead at the break.
However, the situation from the added time, when Manchester City's loanee at Koln Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was sent off for a harsh tackle on Beier, paved the visitors' way toward the triumph.
Despite the Englishman's dismissal, Koln continued with their attacks, but when Jakub Kaminski wasted a decent chance, the punishment came at the hour mark through Beier, who doubled Dortmund's lead following a nice one-two pass with Julian Brandt.
That goal significantly eased the visitors' job, as it gave them some breathing room and full control of the match. Still, even though Fabio Silva and Bensebaini threatened, the third goal wasn't on the horizon. Truth be told, Niko Kovac's men weren't pushing for another goal too much, as their comfortable lead allowed them to peacefully await the referee's final whistle.
Nevertheless, Koln had other plans, as Kaminski punished BVB's passivity, scoring in the 88th minute. Yet, although it returned uncertainty to the game, it turned out to be only a consolation goal for the home crew, as Dortmund's win wasn't in jeopardy.
BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 25
Friday
Bayern - M'gladbach 4-1 (2-0)
/Diaz 33, Laimer 45+1, Musiala 57 pen, Jackson 79 - Mohya 89/
Saturday
Freiburg - Leverkusen 3-3 (2-2)
/Grifo 34, Suzuki 43, Ginter 86 - Kofane 37, Grimaldo 45+3, Terrier 52/
Heidenheim - Hoffenheim 2-4 (0-1)
/Kerber 62, 84 - Prass 26,45+1, Asllani 49, Lemperle 78/
Mainz - Stuttgart 2-2 (1-0)
/Lee 39, Da Costa 90+1 - Demirovic 76, Undav 77/
RB Leipzig - Augsburg 2-1 (0-1)
/Diomande 76, Chaves 90+2 - Fellhauer 39/
Wolfsburg - Hamburger 1-2 (1-1)
/Eriksen 22 pen - Vuskovic 33 pen, Dompe 58 pen/
Koln - Dortmund 1-2 (0-1)
/Kaminski 88 - Guirassy 16, Beier 60/
Sunday
17.30: (2.75) St Pauli (3.45) Eintracht Frankfurt (2.65)
19.30: (2.25) Union Berlin (3.50) Werder (3.40)
***odds are subject to change***