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Loïs Openda scored two goals
Photo:
Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images
At the start of the 26th matchday of the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig achieved a clear 5:1 (1:1) victory at 1. FC Köln.
The Saxons will at least temporarily take fourth place, which entitles them to take part in the Champions League in the coming season.
Borussia Dortmund can overtake them again on Sunday (5:30 p.m. / Stream: DAZN) with a win against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Cologne remains in 16th place, but can be overtaken by FSV Mainz 05.
Mainz will play against Bochum on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / TV: Sky) and can leave the direct relegation places with a win.
The favored Leipzig team attacked Cologne early from the start and were rewarded with the lead.
After a strong combination across the entire pitch, Xavi Simons put RB in the lead (15th minute).
But Cologne responded almost immediately: Florian Kainz brought a corner into the middle, Eric Martel extended and Sargis Adamyan converted to make it 1-1 (18th).
Cologne then played with self-confidence, tried a lot, but were often not precise enough in their offensive actions.
Leipzig was closer to the lead, with Xavi Simons and Dani Olmo in particular continually boosting the offensive game.
But there wasn't enough to score another goal in the first half, Benjamin Henrichs aimed too imprecisely (41'), Xavi Simons shot too high (45'+1').
Openda with a double pack
In the second half, Leipzig played much more determinedly.
After a ball relay over several stations, Xavi Simons tipped the ball to Loïs Openda, who put RB in the lead (63').
Shortly afterwards, Openda increased the score to 3-1 with a header from a cross from national player David Raum (67').
The resistance of the people of Cologne was broken by this point at the latest.
After a corner, a blocked shot reached Amadou Haidara, who made it 4-1 with a precise shot (70th).
Substitute Yussuf Poulsen created the goal against the overwhelmed Cologne team (82').
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