FC Cologne beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 at the RheinEnergieStadion.

The Bundesliga fixture on 11 October 2026 pitted FC Cologne against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. Both sides entered the match looking to claim three points, and the atmosphere was lively under a clear autumn sky.

How it unfolded

The game opened with an early booking when Marius Bulter of the home side was shown a yellow card in the 13th minute for a bad foul. Borussia Mönchengladbach responded in kind ten minutes later, with Jan Leszczynski receiving a yellow card for a similar infringement in the 24th minute.

Just two minutes after the second booking, FC Cologne broke the deadlock. Ísak Jóhannesson unleashed a left-footed strike from outside the box in the 26th minute, sending the ball into the top left corner following a set-piece situation to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Borussia Mönchengladbach equalised before the hour mark. In the 39th minute, Joe Scally rose to meet a cross and headed the ball from very close range into the bottom right corner, restoring parity at 1-1.

The decisive moment arrived in the second half. Linton Maina sparked a fast break that culminated in Saïd El Mala’s right-footed shot from outside the area in the 67th minute. The strike found the bottom right corner, handing FC Cologne a 2-1 advantage that they would hold onto for the remainder of the match.

Late in the game, Borussia Mönchengladbach saw two further cautions. Zento Uno was booked for a bad foul in the 81st minute, and Shuto Machino received a yellow card in stoppage time (90'+6') for another bad foul. No further goals were scored, and the match concluded with FC Cologne emerging victorious.

Standout performers

Ísak Jóhannesson provided the opening goal that set the tone for the home side, delivering a precise long-range effort. Saïd El Mala’s strike, assisted by Linton Maina, proved the match-winner, showcasing his ability to finish from distance. Linton Maina’s contribution in the build-up to the second goal highlighted his impact on the transition play. For Borussia Mönchengladbach, Joe Scally’s close-range header was the key moment, keeping his side in contention.

Match facts

  • Final score: FC Cologne 2-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
  • Scorers:
    • Ísak Jóhannesson (FC Cologne) – 26'
    • Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach) – 39'
    • Saïd El Mala (FC Cologne) – 67' (assist: Linton Maina)
  • Bookings:
    • Marius Bulter (FC Cologne) – 13'
    • Jan Leszczynski (Borussia Mönchengladbach) – 24'
    • Zento Uno (Borussia Mönchengladbach) – 81'
    • Shuto Machino (Borussia Mönchengladbach) – 90'+6'
  • Venue: RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne

What it means

The three points keep FC Cologne ahead in their Bundesliga campaign, while Borussia Mönchengladbach must look to recover after the narrow defeat. Both teams will analyse the match to build on the positives and address the moments that led to the result.