The 1. FC Köln concluded the 21st matchday of the 2. Bundesliga with a 1-0 win over FC Schalke 04, reclaiming the top spot in the table.
Despite a promising start, the home team struggled to create significant scoring opportunities throughout the game. Instead, the visitors’ defense was breached in the 43rd minute, courtesy of a mistake by Mehmet-Can Aydin and Damion Downs capitalized on the error to put the hosts ahead. The away team intensified their pressure and took more risks in the second half, but their efforts ultimately went unrewarded.
The win has given Köln a two-point lead over HSV and Kaiserslautern, while Schalke’s loss has seen them slip to 14th place in the table. The Kölner will face Magdeburg on Friday, while Schalke is set to take on Karlsruhe on the following Sunday.
The results of the parallel matches played on Sunday afternoon were: Hannover 96 drew with Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-1 and Karlsruher SC lost to Eintracht Braunschweig 0-2.