Highlights
R. Hartmann
0:12
WATCH: JOVETIC: "I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE ACHIEVEMENT"
Full-time
90'
+ 4
90'
PLATTENHARDT BOOKED
A late card for Hertha's left-back as he brings down Ehizibue.
86'
SCHAUB SHOT BLOCKED
Cologne aren't satisfied with three goals this afternoon as they push on for more with Schaub cutting in from the right before shooting at goal but his effort is blocked.
84'
Substitution
81'
ASCACIBAR DENIED
Hertha think they have a goal back as Ascacibar smashes home the rebound after Horn saves a header in front of his own goal, but the midfielder is offside from the initial effort on goal.
80'
SituationNo goal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
80'
LUKEBAKIO GOES WIDE
A big chance for Hertha once more as Klünter crosses into the middle from the right and finds Lukebakio free in front of goal, but he can't get his header on target.
78'
COMING CLOSE!
Klünter lofts a ball to the back post where Richter has found space to smash the ball across goal. Lukebakio is looking to get on the end of it but a big challenge comes in from Hübers to keep it out.
77'
THIELMANN BOOKED
The teenager is booked here with 13 minutes to play.
76'
TRIPLE CHANGE
Özcan, Schaub and Andersson are all on for Cologne with goalscorers Kainz, Modeste and debutant Ljubicic all on.
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
COLOGNE VIBES
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68'
DUDA ON
The former Hertha man is on against his former side for the final 20 minutes.
68'
Substitution
67'
CZICHOS BOOKED
The Cologne centre-back brings down Zeefuik just outside his own area and he's cautioned.
65'
DOUBLE CHANGE!
A Bundesliga debut for Richter as he comes on for Jovetic, while Lukebakio is on for Cunha.
65'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
FLORIAN IN THE FLOW!
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60'
KING KAINZ!
Kainz has now scored 13 Bundesliga goals of which five have come against Hertha. This is his second brace against the capital club.
59'
DOUBLE CHANGE
Two right-backs come on in Klünter and Zeefuik, with Boateng and Pekarik coming off as Dardai looks to change things up.
59'
Substitution
59'
Substitution
55'
KAINZ IS AT IT AGAIN!
INCREDIBLE! It's a second for Kainz, third for Cologne and the hosts go two goals in front. Once again the attack comes down the right with Schmitz this time the creator. His low cut-back goes beyond Uth, but Kainz is there to slide in on his left foot and the ball dribbles beyond the reach of Schwolow and the noise is wild!
52'
COLOGNE ARE IN FRONT!
Czichos wins the ball from Cunha in midfield and Cologne break forward. It goes down the right to Modeste whose cross almost goes in the net itself, but Schwolow claws it away only for the ball to loop into the air in front of his goal. Kainz has carried on his run at the back post and is on hand to nod home into the empty net!
51'
HERTHA STRUGGLES
The away side haven't worked a shot on goal since the 26th minute here in Cologne and have started the second half slowly as well.
49'
BIG CHANCE FOR SKHIRI!
Uth swings in a fantastic free-kick from the left flank towards the back post of the Hertha area and Skhiri leaps above Dardai to meet it. His header is on target, but Schwolow is in the perfect place to parry that one away.
46'
BACK UNDERWAY!
No changes at the break here in Cologne as we get the second half underway.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 2
GREAT EFFORT FROM KAINZ!
Cologne almost go into the lead before the break as Thielmann finds Kainz with a tidy switch of play, and he cuts in onto his right foot before curling for the fine corner. Schwolow matches it with a fine finger-tip save to push the ball wide.
45'
THIRD TIME THE CHARM
Shots
3
3
Anthony Modeste Matheus Cunha
44'
BACK IN THE GOALS
The Cologne favourite has scored his first Bundesliga goal since June 2020 and it's a big one before the break here.
41'
MODESTE LEVELS IT!
The goal stands after a Video-Assist check after Kainz sent Thielmann in behind down the left. He turns back and crosses in on his right foot and Modeste battles with Dardai to meet the ball and head home past Schwolow.
39'
THIELMANN KNOCK
The Cologne forward has taken a knock to his shoulder off the ball and is taking treatment. We'll have to see if he can continue, at least until half-time.
35'
MODESTE STRUGGLES
The perfect example of Hertha's fine work in defence so far is that Modeste has had just seven touches of the ball and lost both of the two challenges he's contested. A hard day at work so far for the Frenchman.
34'
ON THE BALL
The home side have enjoyed most of the ball here, and especially in the last five minutes or so. Still, finding a way through the Hertha defence has been difficult with Schwolow yet to be forced into a save.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
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.
29'
OPEN ATTACKING GAME
It's been an entertaining watch so far in Cologne with 12 shots on goal between the two sides. Cologne have yet to get one of their five on target, while Hertha have had four - one of which opened the scoring.
26'
JOVETIC FORCES A SAVE
A swift counter from Hertha sees Boateng find Jovetic on the left flank. He cuts inside onto his favoured right foot and fires at the near post, but Horn is on hand to turn it behind.
23'
NO PENALTY FOR HERTHA
A video-assist check on a potential handball from Czichos shows no deliberate handball from the Cologne centre-back.
23'
SituationNo penalty
ReviewHandball?
DecisionNo penalty
THE FIRST FOR JOVETIC!
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18'
BIG CHANCE FOR UTH!
An error in the Hertha defence gives Cologne their best chance of the game as Stark gives the ball away just outside the Hertha area and Uth is found in front of goal, but he can't beat Schwolow with his attempted chip from close range.
16'
HÜBERS BOOKED
An early yellow card for Cologne's summer signing from Hannover for handball.
15'
CUNHA INVOLVED ALREADY
Shots
1
2
Mark Uth Matheus Cunha
12'
MODESTE MISCUES
Kainz does well to dribble past Pekarik on the near side and crosses low into the middle from the byline. But Modeste can't get a shot away as he attempts to wrap his left foot around the ball.
11'
SERDAR GOES CLOSE!
The summer signing from Schalke has moved inside from the right flank and sends a piercing shot at goal from 20 yards out. Horn does well to keep that one out.
9'
LOOKING TO STAY CALM
The home fans have been loud and proud in their support here in the opening 10 minutes, but it's gone a touch quiet since Jovetic's opener. Cologne are looking to keep the ball here to calm the game down after a frantic opening.
6'
JOVETIC OFF THE MARK!
It's taken just six minutes for Jovetic to get off the mark in the Bundesliga as Plattenhardt's free-kick is met by Cunha in front of goal. His header is parried back to him by Horn, and he touches the ball across goal for Jovetic to tap home.
2'
HERTHA SET UP
It looks like a 4-3-3 to start for Hertha, with Serdar in a new position for him on the right wing, while Cunha is through the middle and Jovetic on the left.
1'
HERE WE GO!
The second game of the day and final one of the opening weekend of the season is off and running in Cologne. The atmosphere is fantastic is Cologne as we get underway.
Kick-off!
DARDAI MAGIC
With Pal Dardai at the helm, Hertha have lost just one of eight Bundesliga meetings against Cologne (W5, D2). The Hungarian is back at the club for a second stint as coach, having stepped in last term to save their bacon and first overseen the pro team between February 2015 and June 2019.
WINNING STARTS
Hertha kicked off their season with a last-gasp win over 3. Liga's Meppen in the DFB Cup first round, Davie Selke scoring in the 91st minute. Cologne also advanced, albeit the hard way. Ellyes Skhiri cancelled out an early Jena goal to force extra-time, with the Billy Goats ousting the Regionalliga outfit 4-2 on penalties.
LAST SEASON
Hertha secured their place in the Bundesliga after holding Cologne to a scoreless draw on the penultimate day of last season. The Old Lady finished 14th in the end, two points above the Billy Goats, who were made to sweat by Bundesliga 2 outfit Holstein Kiel in the play-offs. After losing the home leg 1-0, though, the inaugural Bundesliga champions ran out 5-1 winners in the return fixture.
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Hertha have Matheus Cunha back after he helped Brazil to Olympic gold. Kevin-Prince Boateng makes his second Bundesliga debut for his boyhood club, alongside fellow new arrivals Suat Serdar and Stevan Jovetic. As for Cologne, they have a new head coach in Steffen Baumgart. Defender Timo Hübers makes his sixth Bundesliga appearance, two-and-a-half years after his last in the colours of Hannover. Dejan Ljubicic makes his Bundesliga bow following his move from Rapid Vienna, while forwards Mark Uth and Anthony Modeste are back at the club and straight into the starting line-up.
COLOGNE STARTING XI
T. Horn - Schmitz, Hübers, Czichos, Hector (c) – Skhiri, Ljubicic - Thielmann, Uth, Kainz - Modeste
COLOGNE SUBS
Schwäbe, Özcan, Andersson, Duda, Ehizibue, Schaub, Mere, Lemperle, Ostrak
HERTHA STARTING XI
Schwolow - Pekarik, Stark (c), M. Dardai, Plattenhardt - Tousart, Ascacibar, Serdar – Cunha, Boateng - Jovetic
HERTHA SUBS
Körber, Darida, Lukebakio, Klünter, Dilrosun, Mittelstädt, Richter, Torunarigha, Zeefuik
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