Clinical Dortmund put 2 pass impressive FC Koln

Borussia Dortmund matched a record from 1994, as they secured a ninth-straight Bundesliga home victory, but they were made to fight for it by an impressive Cologne performance before their superior pressing clinched the points.

Dortmund came into the game without their top scorer Erling Haaland, and that appeared to embolden the visitors, who started without fear, and even had the ball in the net after 15 minutes. In a move that seemed too good to be true, Mark Uth smartly slotted the ball home, but the referee ruled that the striker had controlled the ball with his hand. The home side continued to struggle without a focal point in attack, but they should have taken the lead after outstanding work from Marius Wolf. He outpaced the Cologne defence and pulled the ball back for Marco Reus, but the usually reliable talisman failed to convert from a central position and wasted a fantastic opportunity.

Dortmund did find the opener just before HT, and it was an outstanding piece of play from Jude Bellingham to create the goal. He anticipated a flick-on into the channel before clipping a deft cross onto the head of Thorgan Hazard, and an equally precise header from the Belgian was enough to beat the keeper.

The visitors controlled the game after the restart, and Anthony Modeste was looking dangerous with his aerial prowess. He powered his 19th header of the season on target, but Gregor Kobel was equal to it as he got down low to save. Dortmund then clinched a vital second goal in the simplest way on 64 minutes. Steffen Tigges escaped his marker to meet a corner at the near most, and his header flashed across the box, nestling in the far corner to end the game as a contest and condemn plucky Cologne to defeat.