"Cologne's Bundesliga Victory": Cologne secures triumph in Germany's premier football league
In the highly-anticipated Bundesliga season opener, 1.FC Köln emerged victorious against Mainz 05, securing a 1:0 win. The decisive goal was scored by Marius Bülter, a new signing from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, in the final minute of the match.
The game started with a quick test for Lukas Kwasniok, the new coach of 1.FC Köln, as Kaishu Sanos' deflected shot missed the target in the early stages. Despite the early scare, Kwasniok's team held their ground, with both teams struggling to create chances, with Köln being particularly cautious, allowing Mainz to dictate the game.
Mainz's goalkeeper, Robin Zentner, was called into action after the break, making several saves to keep the scoreline level. However, it was Bülter who would break the deadlock, scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute to give 1.FC Köln the advantage.
The win marked a significant milestone for 1.FC Köln, as it broke Mainz 05's unbeaten home streak of 13 games. It also marked a difficult start for Mainz, who are currently in discussions to extend the contract of Nelson Weiper, which expires in 2026.
Weiper's return to the Mainz squad after resolving his contract issues with the club was not enough to turn the tide in their favour. Paul Nebel's red card for a professional foul after an hour of play further hampered Mainz's chances.
Meanwhile, Lukas Kwasniok made his debut as coach of 1.FC Köln in the Bundesliga. The new coach chose to wear a white Cologne home shirt with red stripes for his debut, symbolising his commitment to the club.
However, the game was not without its controversies. Nadiem Amiri, a Mainz player, stated that his team deserved to lose the match. Ragnar Ache, a new offensive signing for 1.FC Köln, had to be substituted due to a knee injury in injury time, casting a shadow over the victory.
Elsewhere, FC Schalke 04 started the new season with a win in the DFB-Pokal match against FC Schalke 04 itself, winning 1-0 after extra time against 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig. The team was led by coach Miron Muslic at that time. In the local derby, ASV Hamm-Westfalen secured the start of the new season with a derby win over their rivals.
