Rhein Derby Recap: Borussia Mönchengladbach Triumphs Over 1.FC Köln

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

Die Fohlen entered this match off the back of their first victory of the season, having defeated St. Pauli 4-0 the previous weekend. Conversely, Köln emerged as one of the surprise teams in the initial phase of the Bundesliga season.

The early moments of the first half were characterized by a tense stalemate, although Gladbach created more opportunities. As the match approached half-time, die Fohlen were awarded a penalty following a foul by Kristoffer Lund on Franck Honorat. Haris Tabakovic stepped up to take the shot, but his attempt was saved by Köln’s goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe, who deflected the ball out for a corner.

From the subsequent corner, Gladbach opened the scoring after a series of rebounds allowed Philipp Sander to volley the ball into the net, making it 1-0.

Despite making changes at halftime, Köln struggled to assert themselves, as Gladbach maintained the upper hand and demonstrated a stronger desire to win.

The hosts were awarded another penalty when Lund handled the ball in the box, and Kevin Diks converted to double the lead to 2-0. Moments later, die Fohlen extended their lead yet again, with Tabakovic finishing a counter-attack initiated by a pass from Franck Honorat.

With Gladbach’s victory seemingly assured, Köln regained some control over the game and earned a penalty of their own in the 92nd minute. Luca Waldschmidt converted, providing Effzeh with a glimmer of hope, particularly with 11 minutes of added time.

This victory lifted die Fohlen out of the relegation zone, placing them in 12th position, and marked their second consecutive win. The efforts of Eugen Polanski in revitalizing the team are evident, as they begin to emerge from a challenging period. Though the journey has been rocky, Gladbach is on an upward trajectory.

The players appear reinvigorated. With Tim Kleindienst poised to return, the coaching staff faces a decision regarding the starting number nine, as Tabakovic has accumulated six goals and two assists in nine Bundesliga matches. The resurgence of Florian Neuhaus has been notable, alongside considerable improvements from Philipp Sander, Franck Honorat, and Rocco Reitz.

There is no denying that Köln has been one of the season’s surprise teams, with Said El Mala emerging as a standout player. However, a closer examination of their opponents reveals that their only notable victory against a top-half team was against Hoffenheim.

Lukas Kwasniok’s style of football is undeniably attractive; nevertheless, Köln has struggled in high-stakes matches. While Gladbach may not currently be a top team in the league standings, this match constituted the most significant clash of the season for them, and Köln’s loss is particularly notable given their recent form.

**Player Ratings:**
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)
Others: Marvin Friedrich (5), Giovanni Reyna (5), Shuto Machino (5), Oscar Fraulo (-)
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)
Others: Ragnar Ache (5), Sebastian Sebulonsen (5), Linton Maina (5), Gian-Luca Waldschmidt (5), Alessio Castro-Montes (-)

According to FotMob, the 29-year-old Diks made 16 defensive contributions and won 80% of his ground duels, a critical factor in Gladbach’s success. Despite Köln exerting more control in the latter part of the second half, Diks’s contributions were pivotal.

Additionally, Diks’s first goal for the club was a long-awaited achievement. At Copenhagen, he regularly took penalties, so his delayed ascension to spot-kick duties at Gladbach came as a surprise.