With the first success after two home games without a win, 1. FC Köln still have their eye on the international starting places in the Bundesliga after a great race to catch up.

Coach Steffen Baumgart's team defeated FSV Mainz 05 3:2 (0:1) after trailing 2-0 on Saturday and is still well in the race with 43 points.

Mainz, on the other hand, remained without a win in their third away game in a week and have not won ten games in a row away from home.

In front of 49,800 spectators in the RheinEnergieStadion, which was not completely sold out, Ellyes Skhiri (60th minute), Dejan Ljubicic (78th) and Mainz loanee Luca Kilian (82nd) ​​scored the goals for the hosts, Jonathan Burkardt (14th) and Karim Onisiwo (55th). .) had previously scored for Mainz.

For various reasons, Cologne were missing six professionals, but striker Anthony Modeste was back at the start just in time for the complete return of the spectators in the completely sold-out RheinEnergieStadion.

The south curve had celebrated the complete return to the stadium before the game with a pyro show and chants.

Captain Jonas Hector moved into defensive midfield because the ailing Salih Özcan stayed on the bench for the time being.

Best scorer Burkardt

The strenuous guest performance with three games within a week was hardly noticeable for the Mainzers.

Coach Bo Svensson largely relied on the eleven that lost 2-1 in Augsburg, only young national player Anton Stach moved into the starting line-up.

With their five-man defense and early attacks by the offensive players, Mainz caused problems for Cologne.

The Rheinhessen also got the opening goal through their top scorer Burkardt, who scored his tenth goal of the season.

The U21 European champions benefited from Luca Kilian, the Mainz loan player in an FC jersey deflected the ball into his own goal to make it 0-1.

Although the hosts had the greater share of the game, they created far too few opportunities in the opposing penalty area.

Due to their compact defence, Mainz left little space and thus provoked many mistakes in the opponent's passing game.

They also made better use of their chances.

Onisiwo even made it 2-0 for Mainz with a shot from a tight angle.

Only then woke up the FC.

Shortly thereafter, Skhiri made it 1:2 and thus opened up the now very lively game, which was characterized by many duels.

And in fact, substitute Ljubicic managed to equalize with a right-footed shot to make it 2-2 - before Kilian scored the acclaimed winning goal.