1. FC Köln beat Werder Bremen 4-3 in a dramatic encounter on matchday 32 of the Bundesliga thanks to an Anthony Modeste brace to keep their hopes of a Europa League place alive. It was a hugely important victory for Peter Stöger’s side in his 100th Bundesliga game in charge of the club.
Former Germany U21 international Leonardo Bittencourt and Simon Zoller also added to the home side’s tally for the evening and despite coming under intense pressure from Bremen in the final few minutes, they could not score a fourth after Fin Bartels, Theodor Gebre Selassie and Serge Gnabry had all got on the scoresheet for Nouri’s team.
Battle for a place in Europe
With their first victory in four, Köln not only ended Bremen’s unbeaten run of eleven games, they also leapfrogged the club to sit in sixth place on goal difference. This means it is now in their hands to qualify for a Europa League place as they take on Leverkusen and Mainz in their final two league matches. It would be the first time the club had reached such a feet in 25 years should they manage it. Bremen, who must still take on Hoffenheim and Dortmund, slip out of the European places with this defeat.
Both teams looked threatening in the opening exchanges of the match getting right into each others’ faces with some fierce challenges flying in, albeit in a fair and controlled manner. SVW coach Alexander Nouri put his faith in high-flying duo Fin Bartels and Max Kruse up top but both forwards struggled to really make an impact early on as an alert Köln defence were on hand to intercept from the Werder midfield.
Bittencourt scores with his head
Köln striker Anthony Modeste was looking to end a drought of three games without a goal and nearly did so with a looping header in the tenth minute. However he did not have to wait much longer as he tapped in just minutes later high into the net. Bittencourt then doubled their lead with an impressive header after a Lukas Klünter cross.
Bremen’s passion did not waver and they managed to turn things around in the space of just six minutes after a stunning goal from Fin Bartels and a Gebre Selassie header to level the scoring. But an almost immediate Köln response as well as Modeste’s low strike just after the restart gave Werder two much to do to pull it back again.
1. FC Köln beat Werder Bremen 4-3 in a dramatic encounter on matchday 32 of the Bundesliga thanks to an Anthony Modeste brace to keep their hopes of a Europa League place alive. It was a hugely important victory for Peter Stöger’s side in his 100th Bundesliga game in charge of the club.
Former Germany U21 international Leonardo Bittencourt and Simon Zoller also added to the home side’s tally for the evening and despite coming under intense pressure from Bremen in the final few minutes, they could not score a fourth after Fin Bartels, Theodor Gebre Selassie and Serge Gnabry had all got on the scoresheet for Nouri’s team.
Battle for a place in Europe
With their first victory in four, Köln not only ended Bremen’s unbeaten run of eleven games, they also leapfrogged the club to sit in sixth place on goal difference. This means it is now in their hands to qualify for a Europa League place as they take on Leverkusen and Mainz in their final two league matches. It would be the first time the club had reached such a feet in 25 years should they manage it. Bremen, who must still take on Hoffenheim and Dortmund, slip out of the European places with this defeat.
Both teams looked threatening in the opening exchanges of the match getting right into each others’ faces with some fierce challenges flying in, albeit in a fair and controlled manner. SVW coach Alexander Nouri put his faith in high-flying duo Fin Bartels and Max Kruse up top but both forwards struggled to really make an impact early on as an alert Köln defence were on hand to intercept from the Werder midfield.
Bittencourt scores with his head
Köln striker Anthony Modeste was looking to end a drought of three games without a goal and nearly did so with a looping header in the tenth minute. However he did not have to wait much longer as he tapped in just minutes later high into the net. Bittencourt then doubled their lead with an impressive header after a Lukas Klünter cross.
Bremen’s passion did not waver and they managed to turn things around in the space of just six minutes after a stunning goal from Fin Bartels and a Gebre Selassie header to level the scoring. But an almost immediate Köln response as well as Modeste’s low strike just after the restart gave Werder two much to do to pull it back again.
