Borussia Mönchengladbach Triumphs in Riveting Rhein Derby Against Köln

After a year away due to 1.FC Köln’s relegation, the Rhein Derby made its much-anticipated return with Borussia Mönchengladbach hosting their rivals at Borussia Park.

Die Fohlen entered the match following a convincing 4-0 victory against St. Pauli, while Köln emerged as one of the early surprises of the Bundesliga season.

The initial moments of the first half were characterized by a cautious approach, with Gladbach creating more significant opportunities. As the game approached half-time, die Fohlen earned a penalty after Kristoffer Lund fouled Franck Honorat. Unfortunately for them, Haris Tabakovic’s penalty was expertly saved by Köln’s keeper Marvin Schwäbe, who deflected the ball out for a corner.

From the subsequent corner, Gladbach found the breakthrough when a flurry of activity in the box allowed Philipp Sander to volley the ball into the net, making it 1-0.

Despite tactical changes at the break, Köln struggled to impose themselves, as Gladbach continued to dominate. The hosts were awarded another penalty after Lund handled the ball, and Kevin Diks stepped up to successfully convert, extending the lead to 2-0. Shortly thereafter, die Fohlen struck again; a swift counter-attack culminated in Tabakovic scoring from a well-placed pass by Honorat.

With Gladbach’s victory seemingly assured, Köln began to assert more control and earned a penalty in the 92nd minute, which Luca Waldschmidt converted, providing Effzeh with a glimmer of hope, particularly with 11 minutes of added time remaining.

This win elevated die Fohlen out of the relegation zone, propelling them to 12th place as they celebrated their second consecutive victory. This improvement is a testament to the efforts of Eugen Polanski in revitalizing the team after a challenging start to the season. Although challenges remain, Gladbach appears to be on an upward trajectory.

The players have shown signs of rejuvenation, and the return of Tim Kleindienst will present a decision regarding the starting striker, as Tabakovic boasts an impressive six goals and two assists in just nine Bundesliga matches. The resurgence of Florian Neuhaus has been noteworthy, alongside significant improvements from Philipp Sander, Franck Honorat, and Rocco Reitz.

Köln, undeniably the surprise team of the season, has been propelled by standout performances from Said El Mala. However, their victories have come against mainly lower-ranked opponents, with their only win against a top-half team being against Hoffenheim.

While Lukas Kwasniok’s style of play is aesthetically pleasing, the team has struggled in critical matches. Although Gladbach’s league position may not reflect their stature, this derby was crucial, and Köln’s inability to secure a win was disappointing given their recent form.

Player ratings were as follows: Moritz Nicolas (6), Philipp Sander (6), Nico Elvedi (6), Kevin Diks (7), Joe Scally (6), Rocco Reitz (7), Yannik Engelhardt (6), Lukas Ullrich (6), Franck Honorat (6), Florian Neuhaus (6), Haris Tabakovic (7).

For Köln, Marvin Schwäbe (6), Joel Schmieda (5), Cenk Özkacar (5), Eric Martel (5), Jakub Kaminski (5), Isak Johannesson (6), Denis Huseinbasic (6), Kristoffer Lund (4), Florian Kainz (5), Said El Mala (5), Marius Bülter (5) received notable ratings.

Via FotMob, Diks’ performance stood out, marked by 16 defensive contributions and an impressive 80% success rate in ground duels, playing a pivotal role in Gladbach’s victory, particularly as Köln pressed for dominance in the latter stages of the second half.

Diks also celebrated his first goal for the club, a significant moment considering his history as a reliable penalty taker during his time in Copenhagen. This performance sets a positive tone as Gladbach looks to build momentum moving forward.