Goalless draw against Köln
Werner and Silva with chances | Köln hit the woodwork | High tempo, intense duel | RBL's unbeaten run stretches to 18
RB Leipzig earned a point on the road in Cologne. An intense 90 minutes ended goalless as Marco Rose’s side drew 0-0 with 1. FC Köln on Bundesliga matchday 19.
Timo Werner came close to the opener in just the third minute but pushed his shot just wide of the post. Köln looked to operate with a high press and intense running. In the 26th minute, André Silva found himself through on goal after a nice ball through the middle from Konrad Laimer, but his shot was saved by Marvin Schwäbe.
Köln were more promising in attack after the half hour mark and nearly took the lead. Linton Maina struck the post from inside the area and RBL could count themselves lucky that Ljubicic could only turn the rebound onto the crossbar.
The second half was also played with intensity and at a high pace, but there were fewer goalscoring chances at either end. The most notable event came right at the start of the half when Werner found the back of the net only for the offside flag to go up for a call on but Silva (47’). With the two sides doing a good job of neutralising the opposition attack, the game played out into a 0-0 draw and continued Leipzig’s unbeaten run; it’s now 18 games without defeat.
Match information:
1. FC Köln:
Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Martel, Ljubicic (56' Huseinbasic), Kainz (72' Thielmann), Hector (C), Tigges (72' Selke, 85' Lemperle), Chabot, Skhiri, Maina (85' Olesen)
Bench: Horn – Soldo, Huseinbasic, Schindler, Adamyan, Lemperle, Selke, Thielmann, Olesen
RB Leipzig:
Blaswich – Orbán (C), Werner, Klostermann, Szoboszlai (67' Forsberg), Silva (83' Poulsen), Raum (61' Halstenberg), Schlager (83' Haidara), Laimer, Gvardiol, Henrichs
Bench: Nyland – Haidara, Poulsen, Forsberg, Halstenberg, Ba, Simakan, Ba
REFEREE:
Martin Petersen (Stuttgart)
GOALS:
-
ATTENDANCE:
48,000 RheinEnergieStadion
YELLOW CARDS:
Schmitz (3rd of season), Martel (2nd), Adamyan (2nd) | Szoboszlai (1st), Laimer (4th), Gvardiol (1st), Henrichs (6th)
First half highlights:
1ST MINUTE:
Kick off in Cologne!
3RD MINUTE:
A good start from RBL! André Silva finds Timo Werner through the middle, but he puts is shot just wide of the post.
7TH MINUTE:
Both teams are pressing high. Köln are looking for the counter, while RBL have had more of the ball so far.
12TH MINUTE:
RBL are starting to look more dangerous going forward and are controlling the play a little more.
20TH MINUTE:
The Red Bulls have lacked the final ball when advancing into the Köln area, with the home side well positioned.
24TH MINUTE:
Köln are looking to Tigges and Ljubicic in attack. Janis Blaswich cleans up a cross into the area.
26TH MINUTE:
Two big chances for Silva! First, he can’t get on the end of a Werner ball across the area and then he’s denied one-on-one by Köln goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe after being slipped through by Laimer.
32TH MINUTE:
Werner free in the area but Schwäbe saves again.
37TH MINUTE:
Double chance for Köln. The referee allows play to continue after Schlager and Silva are brought to ground and Köln have it in the Leipzig half. Maina is in the area and hits the post, before Ljubicic hits the rebound onto the bar and over!
41ST MINUTE:
There have been four yellow cards already as two Köln players go into the book for back-to-back fouls.
HALF TIME:
There have been chances at both ends here, but we’re goalless and level at the break.
First half in photos
Second half highlights:
46TH MINUTE:
Both teams are unchanged for the second half.
47TH MINUTE:
Werner has the ball in the back of the net, but the flag is up for an offside on André Silva.
55TH MINUTE:
Köln have also enjoyed a solid start to the second half and we’re not able to create any real chances in the final third.
66TH MINUTE:
It continues to be a very balanced game here with both sides defending effectively.
71ST MINUTE:
RBL are looking to counter more now and are allowing the hosts to have more of the ball.
79TH MINUTE:
Laimer goes through the middle and finds Henrichs on the right. He drives the ball towards the far post, but it’s deflected twice and goes behind for a corner.
83RD MINUTE:
Now it’s RBL who are looking the more urgent side as they look for all three points.
87TH MINUTE:
Köln are committed to securing the draw here and are operating with a very deep set up.
FULL TIME:
After four minutes of added time, it’s a goalless draw in Cologne. RBL had some big chances in the first half and had an offside goal, while Köln were denied by the woodwork. A justified draw at the RheinEnergie stadium.