Highlights
T. Stieler
0:24
WATCH: ONDREJ DUDA ON ANTHONY MODESTE'S AERIAL PROWESS
90'
+ 5
COLOGNE KICK-OFF 2022 WITH A WIN
It's all over in Berlin, where Cologne claim all three points and move into the European places in sixth. Modeste's ninth header of the season got the ball rolling before Duda made it 2-0 as the Billy Goats struck twice in three first half minutes. Darida pulled one back for Hertha but Cologne were good for the win, one wrapped up by Thielmann in the 91st-minute. Hertha are 12th as a result and we're off to Bochum next, where Wolfsburg are the visitors in the final game of Matchday 18.
Full-time
90'
+ 1
ALL WRAPPED UP
There will indeed be one more goal and it's Cologne that wrap up all three points and move into sixth-place in the first minute of injury time. Thielmann pounces on a Darida mistake just inside the Hertha half, races clear, rounds Schwolow and fires home. Done. And. Dusted.
90'
FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON
One more goal?
90'
AS xPECTED
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
1
1.33
2.0
2
Goals
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
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.
89'
LAST CHANCE SALOON
We're into the final minute of the 90. Can Hertha grab a dramatic late equaliser or will Cologne hold on?
86'
BOATENG MISSES WOLFSBURG MATCH
That was Boateng's fifth booking of the season, meaning he will miss Hertha's Matchday 19 meeting with Wolfsburg who sit just a point behind the Old Lady as it stands. Meanwhile, Ostrak replaces Duda, whose second goal of the game looks like it may be enough to secure all three points for Cologne.
85'
Substitution
82'
TWO MORE HERTHA CHANGES
It's much more of a like for like double change this time as Klünter replaces Pekarik on the right of defence and Tousart is swapped in for Ascacibar in central midfield. Not long left now.
81'
Substitution
81'
Substitution
79'
BAUMGART SHORES IT UP
Left-back Horn comes on in place of striker Uth as Cologne show the first signs of looking to protect their lead.
78'
Substitution
77'
EVEN IN POSSESSION
Possession (%)
4951
75'
15 TO PLAY
We're into the final quarter of an hour at the Olympiastadion and Hertha are running out of time to find an equaliser. Boateng has looked a threat since coming on but Cologne are still posing the greater attacking threat.
70'
TWO HERTHA CHANGES
Boateng and Ekkelenkamp are on for the home side as Korkut rolls the dice for the first time. Can they grab an equaliser in these final 20 minutes?
69'
Substitution
69'
Substitution
68'
INDIRECT FREE KICK FROM SEVEN YARDS
Another fine footballing sight as Cologne have an indirect free kick from just seven yards out. Every Hertha player is on the line and Schwolow flies out first to deny Uth from close range. Good save.
66'
DOUBLE CHANGE
Cologne make two changes as Ljubicic and Thielmann enter the fray. Just over 20 minutes left, with this still in the balance.
66'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
60'
HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR DARIDA
Distance run (km)
8.5
8.5
Vladimír Darida Louis Schaub
58'
COMEBACK IS ON!
Darida's inswinging cross from wide on the left beats everyone and bends into the far corner for his first goal of the season. It was a wicked ball in, delivered into that corridor of uncertainty that means Schwäbe has no chance to keep it out. Hertha back in it.
54'
PEKARIK DENIED
A superb break from midfield by Serdar sees the pitch open up in front of him and the Hertha midfielder feeds Pekarik on the overlap, whose subsequent shot is diverted behind by Schwäbe. Much better from the hosts.
51'
COLOGNE RESUME ON TOP
It's been all Cologne since the break and Hertha are already at real risk of conceding further.
46'
CHANGE OF REFEREE
Not sure why but it's worth noting that the fourth official, Alexander Sather, and referee, Tobias Stieler, have swapped duties at the start of the second half.
46'
BACK UNDERWAY
Cologne get the ball rolling for the second half...
Kick-off!
2:03
WATCH: DORTMUND COME FROM TWO GOALS DOWN TO WIN 3-2
45'
+ 2
COLOGNE COMFORTABLE AT HALF TIME
It took a little while to get going but this game burst into life with two goals in the space of three first half minutes. Modeste was the first to strike with his ninth headed goal of the season before Duda made it 2-0 to the visitors with an effort that smuggled its way under the diving Schwolow. Cologne cruising, Hertha need to improve.
Half-time
45'
TIME ADDED ON
Can Hertha pull one back before half time? Afraid to say it's looking unlikely, Hertha fans.
42'
MODESTE CLEAR...
But Schwolow denies the Cologne striker, who tries to fire into the bottom left of the Hertha goal but can't quite get the purchase he needs.
38'
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN
Goal attempts
2off target
1on target
3off target
3on target
33'
DUDA MAKES IT TWO!
Hertha are in trouble now as Kainz's cross from the right is headed out to the edge of the box but only to Duda who fires through the crowd and under Schwolow to double Cologne's advantage.
31'
THE GOAL STANDS
A quick look on the monitors and Modeste's opener stands. An incisive break from Cologne and a goal very much out of their Plan A playbook: Get it wide, get a cross into the box, let Modeste fo the rest.
30'
MODESTE MAKES IT 1-0
One attack after Maolida's miss and Cologne are in front. Typically, it's a Uth cross that Modeste heads home for his 12th goal - and ninth with his head - of the season. VAR is taking a look though, this may be chalked off...
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'
MAOLIDA THROUGH ON GOAL...
But, like Uth, he can't find the net. And it's a costly miss...
27'
PENALTY AREA PING PONG
You've got a love a bit of a scramble in the penalty box. It's at the Hertha end here as the ball bounces off one player to another in quick succession, complete with penalty appeals for handball, missed control and a foul on the edge of the area to round it all off. Superb.
24'
COLOGNE IMPROVING
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.37
0.41
0
Goals
22'
UTH MUST SCORE...
But doesn't! Cologne suddenly burst to life and Uth races clear, on his left foot, but fires wide of Schwolow's goal. It's ultimately pulled back for an offside in the build-up and Schaub goes close moments later, too. Clear warning signs for Hertha.
20'
SAVE SCHWOLOW!
Cologne finally get wide and a good ball into the box and it so nearly pays dividends. Schwolow is drawn into a sharp save and the follow up finds its way to Modeste but he's in an offside position and leaves the ball to drop narrowly wide.
14'
MODESTE QUIET
Modeste has yet to get involved in an attacking sense, with the Billy Goats' 11-goal top scorer being well marshalled by Stark and Torunarigha thus far. Cologne haven't managed to get balls into the box, which is testament to how well Hertha have defended early on.
10'
HALF CHANCE
Some nice build-up play from Hertha once more as they break from midfield and Selke's cross from the left so nearly finds Richter but he's nudged off it before he can apply a finish. The hosts are warming to things.
6'
MAOLIDA FLASHES WIDE
A nice Hertha interchange frees Maolida on the right edge of the Cologne box but he drags his shot wide of the far post.
3'
SLOW AND STEADY
Neither side has flown out the traps so far, with both feeling their way into things. Cologne have had more of the ball, while we're yet to see a shot at either end.
1'
OFF WE GO!
And we're underway...
Kick-off!
3:22
WATCH: COLOGNE SOARING WITH MODESTE
HERTHA FLYING UNDER KORKUT
Hertha have won both of their two home matches under Tayfun Korkut and have picked up seven points out of 12 under the 47-year-old since he took charge in December.
10 MINUTES TO KICK-OFF
We're just a handful of minutes away from kick-off at the Olympiastadion. Here's hoping for a belter to start the New Year in style in the capital.
2:03
WATCH: COLOGNE WIN REVERSE FIXTURE 3-1
AS IT STANDS
Hertha begin the Rückrunde looking up from 12th-place at their Matchday 18 visitors in ninth but victory for the hosts would move them to within a point of Cologne and the top half. As for the Billy Goats, victory by two or more goals would lift them into a European place in sixth.
0:15
COLOGNE PLAYERS TAKE A PEAK AT THE PITCH
TEAM NEWS - HERTHA
Hertha also make a pair of changes from the team that beat Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 17. Ishak Belfodil is replaced in attack by David Selke, while Suat Serdar comes in for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp in midfield.
TEAM NEWS - COLOGNE
Steffen Baumgart makes two changes to his side that finished 2021 by beating VfB Stuttgart, with Luca Kilian and Mark Uth replacing Rafael Czichos and Sebastian Andersson. It means first-choice goalkeeper Timo Horn doesn't come straight back in after injury, with deputy Marvin Schwäbe continuing between the posts.
HERTHA STARTING XI
Schwolow – Pekarik, Stark (c), Torunarigha, Mittelstädt – Richter, Darida, Ascacibar, Serdar – Selke, Maolida
HERTHA SUBS
Christensen, Klünter, Plattenhardt, Dardai, Gechter, Ekkelenkamp, Boateng, Tousart, Jastrzembski
COLOGNE STARTING XI
Schwäbe – Schmitz, Kilian, Hübers, Hector (c) – Özcan – Schaub, Duda, Kainz – Modeste, Uth
COLOGNE SUBS
T. Horn, Ljubicic, Ehizibue, J. Horn, Lemperle, Thielmann, Obuz, Ostrak, Olesen
Welcome along!
Here you can find all the information about Hertha Berlin against Köln on Matchday 18.