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Highlights

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Full-time: Cologne 3-2 Union

Wow. The game of the season. Those in attendance will likely never see anything like it again. Cologne could still go down on Matchday 34 but they've kept themselves alive in the most extraordinary of circumstances. 2-0 down to 3-2 up, Timo Schultz's side needed two goals in the 87th minute and got them both. It will go down to the final day and if it's anything like this we're in for a treat.
Full-time
90'
+ 4

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!!!!! 3-2!!!!!!!!!!

WOW! WOW!! WOW!!!! Cologne have done it!!! 2-0 down to 3-2 ahead, Damion Downs scores what looks like the winner to keep Cologne alive in the Bundesliga. What a game and what a story. It's fantastic work from Maina on the left and Downs just has to head in from point blank range.
90'
+ 2

Damion Downs

GOAL!

3:2
Damion Downs
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.
97 %
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.
4.61 m
90'
+ 2

Chance!

Finkgräfe sends a chance into Frederik Rønnow's gloves!
90'
+ 2

Gosens heads it over

Cologne are now back in possession and this could be their season...
90'
+ 1

Six minutes added time

That's just enough for Cologne to find a winner, but Union have just won another corner.
90'
+ 1

Cologne worth their equaliser

information
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).
Cologne have certainly deserved another goal, but can they get one more as we head into stoppage time?
xGoals
2
1.9
1.45
2
Goals
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.
88'

2-2!!! What drama!!!

Oh my word! Cologne need just one goal to save their Bundesliga status. Schwäbe fires a ball into the box, Timo Hübers heads it down, Mark Uth gets a shot away and Tigges tucks it in. Wow. Three minutes plus stoppage time to find a winner...
88'
Video Assistant RefereeVideo Assistant Referee
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionGoal
87'
Steffen Tigges
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.
31 %
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.
6.43 m
84'

Hollerbach should score

A well worked free-kick is flicked on to Hollerbach but he can't get any purchase on the ball and Schwäbe collects it easily.
83'

Uth wide

Uth creates space and flashes a shot just wide. Cologne legend Jonas Hector looks gutted in the stands.
79'

Tigges chance!

Tigges heads towards goal but can't get enough purchase on the cross as we head into the final 10 minutes.
79'

The story of Cologne's season

Cologne again dominate the shot count under Schultz, but the accuracy and finishing just hasn't been there.
Goal attempts
10off target
2on target
5off target
4on target
75'

Alidou off

Alidou has been a constant threat but he's heading off for Damion Downs for the final 15 minutes.
73'

Trimmel off

Captain Trimmel makes way for forward Juranovic. The fullback had been sublime from set pieces but Schultz clearly wants more of a goal threat up front.
72'

Into the final 20 minutes

Cologne need two goals in 20 minutes or their relegation will be confirmed.
68'

Off the bar!

Union again brilliant from a corner and Trimmel plants his cross onto the head of Gosens. He flicks the ball over everyone and onto the bar, that could have been game over.
65'

Alidou threatening

Alidou has his fourth shot of the match after beating Diogo Leite to a cross. He's now had the most shots of any player on the pitch.
Shots
4
2
Faride Alidou Kevin Volland
63'

xGoals

information
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
1.39
1.15
2
Goals
61'

Uth on

Local hero Uth comes on for midfielder Martel, can the former Germany international be decisive?
61'

Substitution

60'

Roussillon off

That's the end of Roussillon's afternoon as he's replaced by Tousart. Union can't do anything with the corner he won.
59'

Another Union corner

Roussillon wins a Union corner but looks in serious pain after a bad landing and requires treatment on-pitch.
56'

Cologne unlucky?

information
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).
xG stats now have Cologne ahead after that huge Alidou chance, can they capitalise?
xGoals
1
1.39
1.11
2
Goals
54'

Double change for Union

Goalscorer Volland comes off for Chris Bedia while the lively Brenden Aaronson makes way for Hollerbach.
50'

Gigantic chance!

A far-post cross from Finkgräfe evades Tigges and falls to Alidou in the six-yard box but he can't tap the ball in.
47'

Three changes at the break

Timo Schulz mixes things up for what could be Cologne's final 45 minutes of the season. Tigges comes on for Adamyan up front while the booked Schmitz makes way for Heintz. Union bring on Haberer for Khedira, who was also booked.
46'

Back underway

Play is resumed at the RheinEnergieSTADION and the atmosphere is argaubly even more fierce than pre-match thanks to Kainz's 2-1 goal just before the break.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 6

Substitution

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Half-time: Cologne 1-2 Union

Well, well, well, what a game we have. Just when it looked like Cologne might be down and out with two Union goals in four minutes, Cologne got back into it from the spot. Goalscorer Kainz gees up the home crowd as he walks off and it's clear this one is far from over...
Half-time
45'
+ 4

Alidou the dangerman

He did give away a penalty but Alidou is trying his best to make up for it and Union are struggling to deal with his runs down the wing.
45'
+ 2

Five minutes of stoppage time

The RheinEnergieSTADION is back on its feet and Cologne continue to attack, could they get one more in stoppage time?
45'
+ 1

Kainz! Game on!

Captain Kainz thumps the spot kick past Rønnow's outstretched gloves and Cologne are back in the match just before half-time. That's a gigantic goal.
45'

Florian Kainz

GOAL!

1:2
Penalty
Florian Kainz
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.
77 %
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.
104.27 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.
11 m
44'

Penalty Cologne!

It may be about to be game on as Khedira wrestles down Timo Hübers in the box for a blatant penalty.
44'
Video Assistant RefereeVideo Assistant Referee
SituationPenalty
ReviewFoul?
DecisionPenalty
42'

Gosens offside

Union create a brilliant chance and Aaronson picks out Gosens who's offside. Schwäbe made the save but it was the kind of chance that will worry the home side.
41'

Union making it count

Union are still being outdone in terms of possession but they look far more dangerous going forward. Aaronson wins a free-kick and Trimmel floats in another dangerous set piece before the American sends a threatening cross back into the box.
39'

Gosens working his socks off

No player has covered more yards that Gosens so far - you can tell how much this means to him.
Distance run (km)
4.3
4.8
Florian Kainz Robin Gosens
36'

First yellow

Union look set to break from a corner but Schmitz wipes out Aaronson just before he runs clear. The fullback will now miss Cologne's next game against Heidenheim, although as things stand their survival hopes will already be over.
36'

Cologne with their first corner

Alidou looks lively and wins a corner for Cologne.
33'

Volland tries his luck

Roussillon puts on a show on the left wing and picks out Volland, his first touch is heavy but he still gets a shot away which has to be blocked.
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.
1.
Sargis Adamyan
Sargis Adamyan33.03km/h
2.
András Schäfer
András Schäfer32.33km/h
3.
Kevin Volland
Kevin Volland31.37km/h
27'

Cleared

Captain Trimmel fires in a tricky ball but Cologne deal with this one and then win a free-kick from Aaronson.
26'

Another corner

Union win a third corner, they've already scored from their first two, albeit with the second being a handball and penalty...
25'

Cologne back on the ball

Cologne continue dominating possession after their early shocks, but they're yet to do anything with it.
Possession (%)
6535
20'

First sub

Luca Waldschmidt comes off for Linton Maina and it looks to be due to an injury after an early knock.
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Volland makes it two!

Kevin Volland puts it down the middle as Schwäbe dives to his left. What a start from Union, the RheinEnergieSTADION is in absolute shock.
19'

Kevin Volland

GOAL!

0:2
Penalty
Kevin Volland
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.
77 %
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.
106.69 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.
11 m
18'

Penalty!

Deniz Aytekin reviews the footage on his VAR monitor and Alidou's hand is very high. The referee returns to the pitch and points to the spot.
17'

Penalty?!

Another corner floated into the Cologne box causes chaos and Union are adamant they should have a penalty as Doekhi's header hits a hand.
17'
Video Assistant RefereeVideo Assistant Referee
SituationNo penalty
ReviewFoul?
DecisionPenalty
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Union with the opener!

Against the run of play Union take the lead, a brilliant corner is whipped in and Robin Knoche perfectly glances it past Schwäbe and into the back of the net.
15'

Robin Knoche

GOAL!

0:1
Robin Knoche
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.
12 %
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.
8.18 m
12'

All Cologne so far

The home fans will be happy as Cologne are so far in control of the match.
Possession (%)
6535
8'

Tackles flying in

We're less than 10 minutes into the game and there's already been 26 tackles - most of them very heavy.
Tackles won
13
13
5'

First shot

Schmitz tries his luck from a cleared set piece but it's well wide.
1'

We're underway

It's kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION with Cologne's survival on the line...
Kick-off!
1:24
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Cologne arrive

0:11
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Warm-ups underway

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Pitch inspections

What's at stake

No hyperbole here - this is literally a must-win match for Cologne. The Billy Goats need victory today to still be in with a chance of survival on the final day. Should they win, they will then be three points from Union with it all to play for away at Heidenheim. Defeat for Mainz against Dortmund would also help Cologne out, but if Timo Schultz's side lose today, it's irrelevant, and their automatic relegation will be confirmed.
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More on those teams

Interim Union coach Grote has made four changes from Nenad Bjelica's final team. Trimmel, Knoche, Roussillon and Aaronson start in place of Juranovic, Tousart, Hollerbach and Vogt. Timo Schultz, meanwhile, makes two tweaks for the must-win clash - Kainz and Adamyan start over Thielmann and Maina.

Cologne starting XI

Schwäbe - Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe - Martel, Huseinbašić - Alidou, Waldschmidt, Kainz (c) - Adamyan

Cologne subs

Pentke, Heintz, Uth, Carstensen, Tigges, Christensen, Thielmann, Maina, Downs

Union starting XI

Rønnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Khedira, Schäfer, Roussillon - Aaronson, Volland, Gosens

Union subs

Schwolow, Jaekel, Bedia, Vertessen, Hollerbach, Juranovic, Haberer, Laidouni, Tousart
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Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!
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Win fan shop vouchers, signed jerseys and official Bundesliga match balls!

Starting 11 May, the DFL is giving away prizes around Bundesliga Matchdays 33 and 34. Click HERE for your chance to win!
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Schultz's view on Union

“It’s a final for us. We have to attack like we have in recent weeks, but we have to manage the risk. We don’t have to go all-out from the first minute. The performances in the last two games in Mainz and against Freiburg make me positive. We played well, but couldn't win the matches. We want to change that tomorrow. It's the last chance We have to use it. The fact that we have our fans behind us gives us additional energy."
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Grote's view on Cologne

“It’s an interesting one - a real challenge. We need energy, intensity, togetherness and a plan - defensively and in attack. Cologne have the pressure of having to win [to stay up], but we also want to win.”

History against Billy Goats

Cologne must win their final two games to have a chance of staying up, but face Union and Heidenheim - the only two teams in the Bundesliga they have never beaten. In fact, there is no other team the Berliners have faced so often in the top flight without tasting defeat as Cologne (nine; W7, D2).
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Watch: Union 2-0 Cologne - previous meeting

Union Berlin made it two wins from two in the Bundesliga under Nenad Bjelica with Benedict Hollerbach and David Datro Fofana netting in the second half against Cologne to put three points between themselves and their rivals in the relegation zone.
2:03
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Watch: Union 3-4 Bochum - highlights

Union battled back from 3-0 down but came up short in a seven-goal thriller against Bochum, which cost Nenad Bjelica his job and left the capital club precariously placed above the bottom three.
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Watch: Cologne 0-0 Freiburg - highlights

Cologne were left frustrated by Freiburg last weekend in a game where they couldn't find a goal that would have helped in their battle against the drop.
0:30
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Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 33 fixture between Köln and Union Berlin.