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21/12 7:30 PM
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22/12 12:30 PM
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Highlights

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Full-time
90'
+ 1

Substitution

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
87'

Cologne can come from behind

In their last home match against Union, a 0-2 deficit was turned into a 3-2 win, with the 2-2 equaliser and 3-2 winner coming in the 87th minute and 90+2nd minute of injury time.
82'

The stadium is back now

The FC fans smell their chance and spur their team forward in the closing stages.
79'
Video Assistant RefereeVideo Assistant Referee
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionGoal
78'

Linton Maina

GOAL!

1:2
Linton Maina
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
60 %
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
7.67 m
73'

Good cross

Thielmann puts the ball high to the far post from the right side, where Huseinbašić is free for a header, but heads well over the goal.
71'

Too inaccurate

Muheim hits a free-kick from the right side of the box directly at goal, but it deflects off the wall.
66'

FC have improved

In the second half Cologne are almost four seconds quicker to get back on the ball.
66'

Ball Recovery Time

information
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).
1. FC Köln
1st Half
2nd Half
15.5 s
11 s
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Steffen Baumgart in his element

62'

Lemperle is committed

His five goal attempts are the most, but he has been unlucky in finishing so far.
56'

Downs almost in

The striker receives a high ball inside the box, controls it well and gets a shot away, but it's blocked by Schonlau.
54'

Good attack

Thielmann comes into the penalty area from the right and shoots from a tight angle. Heuer Fernandes' save with his foot lands at Ljubicic, whose follow-up shot is blocked by Schonlau.
49'

Long ball

Jatta is played through on the right behind the defence and plays a first-time pass into the middle. However, Urbig intercepts the cross.
46'

Play resumes!

The ball is rolling again in Cologne.
1:00
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Happy birthday, Bundesliga 2!

Kick-off!
45'
+ 4

Half-time in Cologne

An exciting game to start the season goes into the break - and HSV are leading not entirely undeservedly. The guests took advantage of a mistake by Urbig for the early lead and then countered their way to 2-0, with two-goal scorer Königsdörffer particularly shining. Will Cologne find a way back?
Half-time
45'
+ 2

Cologne almost pull one back!

The Billy Goats have some space to counter. Lemperle initiates his own chance by sending Huseinbašić wide right in front of the box and then receiving a low return pass inside the box. From close range, the striker shoots at Heuer Fernandes, who spreads himself and makes an incredible reaction save!
44'

HSV with better chances

Hamburg have six shots on target, Cologne only one.
Goal attempts
10off target
1on target
1off target
6on target
41'

Another counter

HSV have space again on the left side, Karabec drives the ball to the edge of the box and puts a cross into the middle, where the danger can be averted.
39'

Chance for Cologne

Waldschmidt takes a free-kick just outside the HSV penalty area in a central position, but his effort is straight into the wall.
36'

Second brace

Königsdörffer has netted his second brace in Bundesliga 2. The first came in December 2021 for Dresden against Karlsruhe.
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Königsdörffer at the double

HSV increase their lead to 2-0! Again it goes down the left side, this time Dompé sends HSV new signing Karabec to the penalty area, who perfectly crosses to Königsdörffer at the far post. Unmarked, his header crashes off the crossbar, but he sinks the rebound into the net!
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
76 %
Shot speed
information
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
70.19 km/h
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
5.54 m
34'

Good chance

Ljubicic pops up in front of the box after a cross, but shoots wide!
31'

Downs with the head

Thielmann crosses from the right side to the far post, where Downs heads the ball high over the goal.
30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
27'

Dompé unstoppable

The Frenchman simply cannot be stopped by Thielmann today. He dribbles past the Cologne player on the byline, but his shot from a tight angle is saved.
24'

Over the bar

Lemperle beats Hadžikadunić on the left side and puts in a low cross into the penalty area for Huseinbašić. But his shot from the edge of the area goes high over the crossbar.
19'

Again from deep

HSV counter down the right side with Dompé, who sends Reis into the penalty area. Under pressure, he shoots from a tight angle, but Pauli clears it for a corner.
17'

Dompé again

The lightning-fast winger leaves Thielmann standing again on the left side and tries another curler from distance. This time Urbig holds it securely.
14'

Cologne staying in touch

The hosts have had much more ball possession and are controlling the game again.
Possession (%)
6139
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Königsdörffer follows Glatzel

Last season, Robert Glatzel, who is absent today, scored the first goal of the Bundesliga 2 season in the 17th minute for HSV against Schalke. In the end, Hamburg won 5-3.
12'

Early HSV goal

For the fourth time in a row there is a standalone match to open a Bundesliga 2 season. Today the earliest goal so far was scored (in the sixth minute).
10'

Cologne fighting

The home side continue to press high up the pitch in Hamburg's half and win a lot of balls. But they can't get into shooting positions at the moment.
7'

Shock for the hosts

Cologne started the match well with two clear-cut chances, but now have to deal with Urbig's blunder.
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
85 %
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
4.59 m
4'

Huge chance!

Muheim loses the ball to Ljubicic on the right-hand side of the penalty area, and he immediately switches play, passing low across the face of goal. At the far post, Huseinbašić shoots over from nine yards out!
1'

Kick-off for the 2024/25 season!

The 51st Bundesliga 2 season is officially under way. HSV have kick-off and are playing in blue-black shirts, Cologne in white.
Kick-off!

Kick-off is imminent!

The teams are coming onto the pitch, the club anthem is blaring out around the stadium.

Selke comeback?

Davie Selke last played on 6 April in Cologne's 2-1 win against Bochum. His last match in Bundesliga 2 dates back to 15 May 2016, which was a 1-0 defeat for Leipzig in Duisburg.

Without Glatzel

In pre-season, Cologne could rely on a prolific striking duo in Tim Lemperle and Damion Downs, while HSV are missing Davie Selke (the former Cologne player at least made the squad) and Robert Glatzel in the starting XI. Glatzel has been at HSV since summer 2021, and is now missing a Bundesliga 2 match for only the third time as a Hamburg player. Last season, he was missing from the starting XI four times in Bundesliga 2, resulting in two wins and two draws.

Cologne striking duo

Tim Lemperle and Damion Downs are both starting for the first time in a competitive match for the FC first team.
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Championship trophy and match ball in the stadium

Debut day

Julian Pauli, 19, is making his first competitive appearance for the Cologne first team. Thanks to some good performances in pre-season, the youngster has earned himself a starting place in the centre of defence. Goalkeeper Jonas Urbig also plays his first competitive match for the Cologne first team.

HSV comeback

With Matheo Raab not fit, Daniel Heuer Fernandes begins in goal for HSV. He last played on 3 February in the 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin, making this his first competitive match under head coach Steffen Baumgart.

HSV starting XI

Heuer Fernandes - Reis, Hadžikadunić, Schonlau (c), Muheim, Elfadli, Meffert, Karabec, Jatta, Königsdörffer, Dompé

Cologne starting XI

Urbig - Thielmann, Hübers (c), Pauli, Paqarada, Martel, Ljubicic, Huseinbašić, Waldschmidt, Downs, Lemperle
camera-photo

Anticipation rising

Fans of both clubs have been making their way to the stadium for a while now, well in advance of kick-off. It's set to be a cracker!
2:05
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The most beautiful goals of the 2nd Bundesliga

13:47
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50 years of the 2.Bundesliga: The teams, dramas and the records

The 2.Bundesliga celebrates it's 50th anniversary - all of the teams, the drama and the records made along the way. The second division of German football is rich with several landmark events, as well as being home to some prominent names. We take a deep dive into all of the things that comprise the history of the 2.Bundesliga.
15:39
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Jürgen Klopp's Bundesliga 2 journey

The former Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach charts his incredible voyage through Germany's second tier.

A seventh promotion in 2024/25?

Cologne has already been promoted to the Bundesliga six times in its club history, however, Nuremberg holds the record for most promotions with eight. Cologne last managed this in the 2018/19 season, while opponents Hamburg have not bounced back since their relegation in 2017-18.

The duel of the old masters

Together, the two clubs have won nine German championships: Hamburg took home the trophy six times, Cologne three times. The last time Hamburg won the title was in 1983, for Cologne it was 1978.
13:48
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Drama, records and the history of the 2. Bundesliga!

1:20
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A look at HSV last season

What Steffen Baumgart says

"We are looking forward to getting started again! Of course this is a special match, because I had a great time in Cologne. But now it's all about HSV! And that's exactly how we want to go there and then perform accordingly. Cologne sees itself in the upper part of the table and belongs there too. So it will be an exciting match."
1:32
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The FC highlights of the previous season

What Gerhard Struber says

"This will be a positioning check for us. We know the strength of HSV and have analysed them very closely. Now we want to see how we perform against one of the league favourites. What more could you want! Pure anticipation, there's a tingle and the team is looking forward to a floodlit match in front of our fans. We are ready!"

Quick out of the blocks

Both sides will be looking to start their campaign off with a win as they both look to return to the Bundesliga. For Cologne an immediate return would be ideal, while Hamburg have found the Bundesliga 2 a tough league to climb out of since their relegation from the Bundesliga in the 2017-18 season.

Familiar faces

This fixture will reunite old friends, as former Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart returns to the Rheinenergie Stadion alongside their former striker Davie Selke, who was a part of last season's squad that suffered relegation to the Bundesliga 2.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 1 fixture between 1. FC Köln and Hamburger SV.