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Cologne (dpa) - 1. FC Cologne continued its curious home series and suffered a severe setback in the fight to stay in the Bundesliga.

With the 0: 1 (0: 0) the Cologne team remained without a win for the eleventh time since 2000 in a home game against VfB Stuttgart.

This season it was the seventh defeat in the eleventh game in the home arena.

Instead of a possible six points, the lead on the relegation place is now only three points.

And Bielefeld's 16th place still has some catching up to do.

The cushion on 1. FSV Mainz 05 and 17th place is only four points.

With a lead of eleven points over Bielefeld, the Swabians are likely to have dispelled the last theoretical doubts about staying in the class.

Sasa Kalajdzic made his tenth goal of the season (49th) for the first away win after three defeats in a row abroad.

Before that, the promoted team was the best away team in the league.

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The guests, where captain Gonzalo Castro returned after a forced break after three games because of a muscle fiber, started better.

But FC had the first chance through Ondrej Duda, who shot over the goal from 14 meters.

After about 20 minutes, the people of Cologne suddenly got acoustic support.

Some fans had gathered behind the south curve of the naturally empty arena and were singing so loud that it could be heard inside the stadium.

The game remained a tough affair.

Both were in good order and lacked almost any ideas and creativity in the game ahead.

Duda's attempt actually remained the only shot on goal of the game until the 45th minute, before Konstantinos Mavropanos headed about two meters over the goal from a corner.

And still no goalkeeper had held a ball when the Stuttgart leadership fell.

After a free kick from Borna Sosa Kalajdzic headed the ball into the far corner.

For the 23-year-old Austrian it was the fifth goal in the last four games and the fifth header goal of the season.

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Cologne coach Markus Gisdol switched to a back four after an hour.

But at first it almost fell 2-0.

FC keeper Timo Horn (65th) parried a shot by Silas Wamangituka, who was not so conspicuous this time.

So Gisdol brought ball security with Max Meyer and Salih Özcan.

And that paid off.

Meyer introduced himself to a co-production of the winter newcomers with a very strong pass to Emmanuel Dennis, but the Nigerian, who was weak that day, shot over it (70th).

And Özcan hit the bar with a remarkable shot (77th).

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210220-99-524125 / 2

Information about the game at bundesliga.de