An intense, feisty affair, the Rhine derby between 1.FSV Köln and Borussia Monchengldbach ended in a 0-0 stalement, with both teams extending their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season.
It had been over two years since the two teams last met, and there was no love lost after referee, Felix Zwayer had to calm down Borussia Mönchengladbach forward, Raffael after just 20 seconds. Die Fohlen have enjoyed more success of late. Having faced each other on 84 occassions, Mönchengladbach have come out the better, winning 47 times. The Rhine Derby hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Köln who have yet to win the tie since 2008.
The 0-0 draw is the first in this tie, played in Cologne, and only the third time in the history the two teams have played each other.
Peter Stöger made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 against SC Paderborn 07. Daniel Halfar dropped to the bench in place of Paweł Olkowski who made his first start. Whilst Yuya Osako returned to the starting line up, looking to add to his goal against Stuttgart, in place of Simon Zoller.
Alvaro Dominguez dropped to the bench in place of Julian Korb in the only change for Mönchengladbachfollowing their 4-1 demolition of Schalke last weekend.
"We realise that it is a special and challenging game - but we can not wait," were the words of the Köln manager is his pre-match presser. The home fans were in fine voice as they always are, roaring the team on, and what a feisty start to the game it was.
Both teams looked up for the derby, just seven minutes in to the game, Anthony Ujah was through before he took a heavy hit from Tony Jantschke's shoulder, something you would expect to see in Rugby. The Mönchengladbach defender then nearly put his side a goal up just a minute later with a header that didn't trouble Timo Horn, who is the only Bundesliga keeper not to concede this season.
Max Kruse latched on to Andre Hahn's cross-field ball but the German international couldn't direct his effort on target. It was Olkowski who had the best chance in the opening 15 minutes, forcing Yann Sommer in to a brilliant save. Great inter-play from Köln saw the Polish midfielder through one-on-one with Sommer, who made the save.
Safe hands from Sommer again denied Köln, after 33 minutes. Captain, Mišo Brečko saw his effort deflect off Olkowski in to the palms of the 25-year old keeper. Both teams went into half-time in a 0-0 stalemate, but not before Raffael had a penalty appeal turned down just before the break.
Kruse nearly put Die Fohlen a goal up just three minutes in to the second-half. The 26-year old headed just wide of the post after getting on the end of Hahn's inch perfect cross.
Ujah was close to adding to his only goal this season after 59 minutes when the Nigerian almost connected with Daniel Halfar's cross, making an instant contribution having replaced Osako.
Halfar's introduction lifted Köln and their passionate supporters, Ujah came close yet again when Sommer misplaced his pass straight to the 23-year old, who couldn't generate enough power on his shot to trouble the Swiss international.
It was all Köln in the second-half, Mönchengladbach were caught on the counter-attack on the Billy Goats should have done better with their three against two opportunity, Lehmann had scuffed his shot which didn't trouble the keeper.
Entering the closing 15 minutes of the match, Köln players enraged that World Cup winner Kramer should be sent off, when in fact, Kevin Vogt and Hahn were booked for the respective teams. Stöger brought on Zoller for Ujah in the search for that one important goal.
The summer signing, Zoller nearly made an instant impact when his effort stung the palms of Sommer ten minutes from time.
A last throw of the dice from Lucian Favre, on came Branimir Hrgota and Patrick Hermann in place of Kruse and Hahn in the final six minutes of the Rhine derby.
A nervy final three minutes from both teams left Koln supporters breathing a huge sigh of relief after a last minute tackle from substitute Yannick Gerhardt.
Following the 0-0 draw, Köln climb to eight in the Bundesliga, having kept their run of clean sheets intact and will travel to Hannover 96 midweek as they look to extend their unbeaten run. Mönchengladbach drop to seventh, ahead on Köln on goal difference, and will welcome Hamburg to Borussia-Park on Wednesday.