Highlights
Full-time: Cologne 0-2 Bochum
© IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO/IMAGO/RHR-Foto
Full-time
90'
Three minutes of stoppage time indicated
Thomas Letsch and Bochum are in the brink of securing their second away win of the season.
88'
Janko heads clear
Hector crosses in and Janko sends it out - more good defending follows as second goalscorer Masovic clears when Huseinbasic tries to head it down for Tigges in front of goal.
86'
Bochum want a third
Antwi-Adjei gets into yet another dangerous position but the ball is cleared away from him before he can shoot.
84'
Another Cologne corner
The hosts are applying late pressure, but it will need to be something special to get them a result from here.
82'
Booking for Schmitz
The Cologne full-back body checks Antwi-Adjei to stop him bursting through on goal and sees a yellow.
82'
Substitution
81'
Substitution
78'
Triple change for Cologne
They had to react with the game now slipping away from them - and on come three reinforcements.
78'
Substitution
77'
Substitution
77'
Substitution
76'
Brilliant Bochum double their lead!
He's been imperious at the back and Masovic strikes to put Bochum two up! Stöger's free-kick deflects off the wall to Hofmann, who turns the ball back to Asano, who slips the slightest lay-off to Masovic to smash in.
75'
Asano almost pulls the trigger
Another deadly Bochum break sees Asano receive the ball on the edge of the box, twist and chase right into the area - until Chabot slides in to take the ball from him just before he can shoot.
71'
Another defensive switch for Bochum
Bochum are on the brink of their first clean sheet in nine matches - and Thomas Letsch is clearly hoping Janko's fresh legs can help them get that over the line.
71'
Substitution
Corners aplenty
© Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
67'
Attacking changes for Cologne
Tigges and Huseinbasic will see if they can help Cologne end their barren scoring spell.
67'
Substitution
67'
Substitution
65'
Asano across
The end-to-end action shows no sign of abating. The Japanese attacker pulls the ball across to Antwi-Adjei in the box, who can't get to it, then Cologne attack and win another corner.
61'
Kainz cuts it right across!
That was close. Kainz cuts the ball right across the goalmouth with the kind of ball that any attacking touch would have surely turned in - but Skhiri can't meet it at the far post.
60'
Losilla shoots
Bochum relieve the pressure with an attack of their own. The ball drops out to Losilla 25 metres out, whose drive is blocked by Hübers.
56'
Maina moves inside
Some great wing play from Maina, who receives the ball out wide and cuts inside nicely, but fires well off-target. Cologne are building a pit of pressure now...
54'
Hosts still trying to pass their way through
52'
Another Selke header
The Cologne striker has his third headed opportunity of the evening, from a Kainz corner, but puts it over.
46'
One change for Bochum
We spoke before kick-off about Thomas Letsch's defensive quandary, and despite a good first half at the back there is a change at that end of the pitch with Heintz replacing Soares.
46'
Back underway
There should be an intriguing second half ahead with Cologne desperate to turn this around, and Bochum very eager for three big away points!
Kick-off!
45'
+ 3
Substitution
Half-time
Half-time: Cologne 0-1 Bochum
© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel/IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel
45'
Three minutes of stoppage time indicated
Bochum look like they will take their lead into the break.
44'
Kainz free-kick
Having been fouled 20 metres out, Florian Kainz steps up and curls the set-piece over the wall - but also well over the goal guarded by Manuel Riemann.
41'
Selke header
Another opportunity for the former Hertha striker. Another cross from the right, but there isn't enough on the header to trouble Riemann.
38'
Cologne corner
Kainz swings it in but Ordets clears with his head. A very solid defensive display so far for Bochum.
36'
Quieter phase
Bochum look like they are trying to dig in and secure their lead at the half-time mark. Given their recent defensive issues, you have to sympathise with that approach.
31'
Acrobatic Asano effort
Antwi-Adjei chips the ball up in the box and Asano leaps to meet it, but the Japanese international's volley is saved well by Schwäbe.
29'
Hofmann booked
The striker dragged Ljubicic's shirt and sees yellow.
29'
Selke seeks an equaliser
The striker had another opportunity to open his Cologne scoring record, but heads Ljubicic's cross from the right too close to Riemann.
27'
Making the most of it
Possession (%)
5842
24'
Blistering pace
This has been a thrilling game so far! Cologne are really pushing forward to try to force their way back in, but again Bochum threaten on the break as Antwi-Adjei sends another good ball into the box that is just a bit too far ahead of Asano.
Stöger scores again
© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel/IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel
21'
Another good Bochum break
Antwi-Adjei slips a good ball in from the left but it's cleared.
17'
Chabot chance
That could have so easily been the equaliser! The ball falls to Cologne centre-back Chabot in the area. He didn't get enough power on the effort to beat Riemann.
17'
Battling Bochum
Duels won
5
8
Eric Martel Danilo Soares
13'
Cologne regather
The shock of conceding has taken the momentum right out of Cologne's strong start, despite the fact they continue to have most of the play. Indeed Bochum get the next chance on the break as Asano whips a shot across the frame of the goal and wide.
9'
Bochum lead
First attack for the visitors, first goal! Kevin Stöger squeezes his spot kick under Schwäbe in the hosts' goal as Bochum score their first goal in five games.
7'
SituationPenalty
ReviewOutside Penalty Area?
DecisionPenalty
7'
Penalty to Bochum!
The visitors have a chance to take the lead against the run of play...Antwi-Adjei was tripped by Hübers right on the edge of the box. VAR checks the foul was made inside and it stands.
4'
Strong start from the Billy Goats
Kainz and Hector link up on the left, and Hector's cross is headed behind well by Ordets.
1'
Shkiri smashes one
He's bagged five goals already in 2023 and Shkiri pelts a ball across from Maina towards the corner of the net. Riemann stops it and gets enough on the ball to push it out past Selke, who was waiting to pounce.
1'
Off we go
Two teams very eager for three points kick off on a chilly night in Cologne.
Kick-off!
The players are out
We've been treated to another rendition of Cologne's rousing club anthem, and the stadium is bouncing. Time to let battle commence...
Will experience count?
Interestingly, tonight Cologne are fielding their oldest average starting XI of the season so far (27 years average age).
Barren runs all round
Cologne go into the game not having scored in 274 minutes of Bundesliga football, while Bochum haven't found the net for 367 minutes of playing time. Let's hope these are two trends that get bucked tonight!
0:23
Watch: Here are the hosts!
0:09
Watch: A look inside Cologne's stadium
Bochum team news
After conceding ten in four consecutive defeats, Thomas Letsch has the opposite dilemma to his Cologne counterpart - how to tighten things up at the back. He opts to bring Konstantinos Stafylidis and Ivan Ordets into the back four, with Janko and Schlotterbeck starting on the bench. The return of captain Anthony Losilla to midfield is a boost following his suspension, and Förster makes way for him in the third change to the side that started a 0-2 defeat to Schalke last weekend.
Cologne teams news
Steffen Baumgart must have been pondering his attacking options carefully this week with Cologne without a goal in three. He opts to give Davie Selke his second start since his January move from Hertha Berlin. Selke leads the line despite not netting yet for his new club, with Tigges on the bench. That is the only change for the hosts.
Cologne starting XI
Schwäbe - Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector (c) - Skhiri, Martel - Maina, Ljubicic, Kainz - Selke
Cologne subs
T. Horn, Köbbing, Schindler, Soldo, Olesen, Huseinbasic, Adamyan, Lemperle, Tigges
Bochum starting XI
Riemann - Stafylidis, Ordets, Masovic, Soares - Stöger, Losilla (c), Osterhage - Asano, Hofmann, Antwi-Adjei
Bochum subs
Johansson, Förster, Holtmann, Janko, Kunde, Broschinski, Heintz, Schlotterbeck
Watch: Previous meeting: Bochum 1-1 Cologne
No way back?
Bochum are the only team in the Bundesliga this season yet to earn a single point after falling behind in a game. They have lost all 16 matches where they have trailed.
An end to the wait?
Bochum haven’t beaten Cologne in the Bundesliga for almost 20 years, going back to a 2-1 victory at the RheinEnergieStadion in April 2004.
TGIF – or maybe not…
The Billy Goats have lost each of their last five Friday fixtures in the top flight. That includes a 5-0 thrashing at Mainz earlier this season.
Goal shy
Cologne have failed to score in their last three league outings. Bochum’s drought has now extended to four.
Tumbling
© DFL