Two goals from Roberto Firmino and one from Ádam Szalai weren't enough for Gisdol's charges as two from Pawe Olkowski and one each from Anthony Ujah and Matthias Lehmann saw Köln grab a famous victory.
The home side were looking to bounce back from their systematic dismantling at the hands of Borussia Mönchengladbach where they lost 3-1. Köln on the other hand probably would've been happy with scoring after a dismal attacking display at home to SC Freiburg saw them lose 1-0. Ermin Bičakčić returned to the starting line-up for Hoffenheim alongside Kevin Volland whilst Köln dropped strikers Simon Zoller and Yuya Osako to the bench and replaced them with Anthony Ujah and Adam Matuszczyk.
What a half is all you can say. Within 2 minutes Köln were dispossessed in their own half and Ádam Szalai gave the home side the lead after Volland gave him the ball on the edge of the box although Timo Horn probably should’ve done better with his attempt to save it. Then 3 minutes later Pawe Olkowski equalised with a sumptuous effort from the edge of the box for the away side to truly set the first half alight. This was followed by a superb long-range effort from midfielder Kevin Vogt; the space opened up in front of him so he let fly and was only prevented a goal by a superb save from Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann.
After his recent national team call-up Volland showed the reasons behind Joachim Löw’s decision as he was probably man of the match and his first chance came in the 10th minute when he made one of his trademark runs where he cuts inside before unleashing an effort that this time was just past the outside of the upright. In the 12th minute Andreas Beck gave away a costless kick on the edge of his box and he was made to pay for his error. Matthias Lehmann stepped up and sent the ball around the outside of the wall and although Baumann got a touch to it the ball it still made its way into the net giving Köln the lead.
The back and forth attacking continued with Szalai being put through on goal but Timo Horn saved well. Then Tarik Elyounoussi was put through but he couldn’t get the ball under his full control and the defenders were able to clear the danger. Hoffenheim subsequently had a brilliant chance to bring themselves level when a Tobias Strobl throw found Volland in the box and he spun past his marker before his cross was deflected into the path of Elyounoussi whose effort was saved brilliantly by Horn.
Ujah made them pay for that miss as in the 35th minute he capitalised on a moment of hesitation from Baumann to round the keeper and slot home into an empty net. An initial long ball was headed away poorly by young Niklas Süle and Kevin Vogt got possession of the ball before sending Ujah clear and as Baumann came out he stopped for a moment as if he thought Süle would recover the ball which he clearly wasn’t going to do and Ujah punished him to put his side 3-1 up.
It only took Hoffenheim 4 minutes to reply when decent build up from Elyounoussi and Roberto Firmino led to the Brazilian finishing coolly into the bottom corner from the edge of the box as he finally is starting to show his talent this season. Firmino then turned creator as he headed down a long ball for Szalai but the Hungarian striker shanked his effort sending it high and wide. However this didn’t slow Hoffenheim’s attacks as just on the point of half-time Volland produced another wonderful ball, this time straight to the head of an unmarked Firmino who once again finished into far bottom corner.
The 2nd half couldn’t have been more different to the first, both sides looked shattered from their earlier exertions and some players, Szalai and Elyounoussi included, were especially poor. The first 15 minutes produced pretty much nothing in an attacking sense; Ujah was booked for a collision with Bičakčić who had just returned to the starting line-up after a previous injury.
Hoffenheim obtained the first proper attempt of the 2nd half when once again some nice build-up play led to a Firmino run inside and his cross fell to Beck on the edge of the box but the defender showed his lack of attacking prowess by smacking it straight into the ground. They then had a wonderful chance 3 minutes later with yet more brilliant build up with Elyounoussi passing to Szalai inside the box and the Hungarian played the ball across goal but Volland was unable to reach it as the cross was way too fast.
Once again Hoffenheim were made to pay for wasted chances as in one of the few Köln attacks’ in the 2nd half Olkowski managed to get past a couple of defenders before letting off a thunderous effort straight into the top corner. Baumann was absolutely furious with his defenders as two had been beaten and as Olkowski was winding up for his shot another two stood off of him allowing him to score.
Credit to Hoffenheim however as they never gave up despite this late blow. Almost immediately after the restart Volland crossed for Szalai but the striker yet again disappointed and headed wide. Markus Gisdol’s side had one last chance with 15 seconds to go as Volland tried to play in Szalai but the big striker didn’t move much to the frustration of his teammate as the ball was only slightly in front of him.