Cologne preserved their unbeaten record at the RheinEnergieStadion this season with the in-form Anthony Modeste on target twice in a 2-2 draw with Union Berlin.

Cologne 2-2 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Modeste (7'), 1-1 Ryerson 9' (assist: Gießelmann), 1-2 Prömel 45+1' (assist: Haraguchi), 2-2 Modeste 86' (assist: Kainz)

There had already been chances at both ends before Modeste put the hosts in front in the seventh minute. He was in the right place at the right time to turn the ball in after Florian Kainz's effort came back off the crossbar. The home fans' joy was short-lived, however, with Niko Gießelmann setting up Julian Ryerson to level matters within two minutes, and it was Ryerson again who went close to giving Union the lead moments later. Cologne persisted with their attacking football, undeterred by Union's growing threat on the break, and Modeste tested Andreas Luthe again before a mistake in midfield led to Union seizing the initiative going into half-time, Genki Haraguchi playing a fine pass through for Grischa Prömel to beat Timo Horn.

Things became a little disjointed in the second half as Cologne pushed for an equaliser and left the door open at the back for Union to hit them om the counter, although the guests appeared to have left their cutting edge in the dressing room, or at least were more comfortable to sit back and soak up the pressure. That pressure grew and grew too, with Jonas Hector leading by a captain's example with two good efforts, the second turned away well by Luthe as the white-clad Billy Goats flocked towards the Union goal en masse. Sebastian Andersson was sent on to swell the attacking numbers and the pressure paid off with five minutes to go when Modeste headed Kainz's corner past Luthe to level. Kainz could and perhaps should have grabbed a late winner when he ghosted in unmarked at the far post but sent his shot wide.

Match stats

• Modeste's seventh goal of the season came in the seventh minute – the earliest the Billy Goats have scored this term and the earliest Union have conceded.
• He added his eighth late on and has now scored all of Cologne's last six goals (four in the league, two in the DFB Cup).
• The Billy Goats are one of four teams still unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga this season. Their three wins is already as many as they got at the RheinEnergieStadion in the whole of 2020/21.
• Union lost their 100 per cent top-flight record against Cologne, after four straight wins in their previous meetings.
• The Berliners’ only league defeats this season have come against the top two of Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

Watch: Baumgart: "If Modeste wants my hat, he has to score three!"

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Line-ups

Cologne: T. Horn - Schmitz, Hübers (Killian 65') , Czichos, Hector (c) - Ljubicic - Özcan, Duda (Thielmann 65'), Kainz - Modeste, Uth (Andersson 77')
Unused subs: Schwäbe, Schindler, Ehizibue, Schaub, Mere, Ostak
Out: J. Horn (hip), Skhiri (shin)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Union: Luthe - Friedrich (c), Knoche, Baumgartl - Ryerson, Khedira, Prömel, Gießelmann - Haraguchi (Öztunali 84') - Becker (Voglsammer 72'), Awoniyi (Behrens 84')
Unused subs: Rönnow, Jaeckel, Endo, Oczipka, Trimmel, Möhwald
Out: Kruse (foot)
Coach: Urs Fischer  

Watch: Ryerson: "Modeste is clever in the box"

About the clubs

1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei

1. FC Köln

RheinEnergieSTADION