1. FC Köln fell to a 5:1 defeat to Leipzig in the final fixture before the international break. Despite Sargis Adamyan’s equaliser after Xavi Simons’ opener, the visitors decided the game in their favour after a Lois Openda double. Amadou Haidara added a fourth in a three-goal spell inside eight second-half minutes. Yussuf Poulsen added a late fifth.
Team news
Timo Schultz made two changes to the side that started against Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend. Luca Kilian and Leart Pacarada replaced Timo Hübers and Linton Maina.
Marco Rose opted for four alterations following Leipzig’s 2:0 victory against SV Darmstadt 98 last time out. Mohamed Simakan, Kevin Kampl, Eljif Elmas and Yussuf Poulsen were replaced by Benjamin Henrichs, Amadou Haidara, Dani Olmo and Benjamin Sesko.
Level at the break
FC started well and were confident in the early stages. Schultz’s side also had the first chances of the game through Florian Kainz and Faride Alidou. However, it was Leipzig who went ahead after some neat play on the edge of the box. Xavi Simons burst through and sent Marvin Schwäbe the wrong way one-on-one after 16 minutes.
Two minutes later, FC would find an equaliser. Florian Kainz’s corner to the near post was flicked towards the back stick by Eric Martel, and ready and waiting for Sargis Adamyan to force the ball over the line. It was the Armenian’s first Bundesliga goal this season.
Openda at the double
After the break, FC continued to be brave going forward but an eight-minute spell from Leipzig took the game away in their favour.
Lois Openda’s close-range finish was followed up by a header from the Belgian forward that clipped the inside of the post. Amadou Haidara ended any hopes of a comeback after a strong finish from 18 yards after a corner wasn’t cleared.
Yussuf Poulsen rounded off the scoring, converting from Benjamin Henrichs’ cross after 82 minutes.
FC head to Spain on Monday for a training camp during the international break. The next fixture following the stoppage in league play sees Timo Schultz’s side take on FC Augsburg in the WWK Arena on 31st March at 15:30 CEST.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe – Carstensen, Kilian, Chabot, Pacarada – Huseinbasic (Christensen 81’), Martel – Alidou (Downs 73‘), Kainz (Selke 73’), Finkgräfe (Schmitz 88’) – Adamyan (Tigges 81’).
Leipzig (4-2-2-2): Gulacsi – Henrichs, Orban, Lukeba, Raum – Haidara, Schlager – Dani Olmo, Xavi Simons – Sesko (Poulsen 75’), Openda (Baumgartner 75’).
Goals: 0:1, Xavi Simons 16’. 1:1, Adamyan 18’. 1:2, Openda 62’. 1:3, Openda 67’. 1:4, Haidara 70’. 1:5, Poulsen 82‘.
Referee: Florian Badstübner (Nürnberg).
Booked: Finkgräfe (49’), Xavi Simons (62’), Alidou (66’), Haidara (72’).
Attendance: 49,000.