Points shared in the Rhineland
Teams | January 16, 2021 at 07:30 PM

Points shared in the Rhineland

Points shared in the Rhineland

Hertha BSC drew 0-0 with 1. FC Köln on Saturday afternoon. Mattéo Guendouzi hit the post in the second half.
Bruno Labbadia made one change to the team that played in Bielefeld last week. The injured Marvin Plattenhardt was replaced by Krzysztof Piątek with Maximilian Mittelstädt moving into the left-back slot. Matheus Cunha (groin problem) and Mathew Leckie (ab strain) were back among the substitutes after previously missing out.
Labbadia’s opposite number Markus Gisdol made five changes after the defeat to Sport-Club Freiburg. Sava-Arangel Cestic, Kingsley Ehizibue, Jannes Horn, Rafael Czichos and Dominick Drexler replaced Jorge Meré, Benno Schmitz, Salih Özcan, Ismail Jakobs and Anthony Modeste in the line-up. There were two former Hertha players in the home XI, Marius Wolf and Ondrej Duda.

Bruno Labbadia made one change to the team that played in Bielefeld last week. The injured Marvin Plattenhardt was replaced by Krzysztof Piątek with Maximilian Mittelstädt moving into the left-back slot. Matheus Cunha (groin problem) and Mathew Leckie (ab strain) were back among the substitutes after previously missing out.

Labbadia’s opposite number Markus Gisdol made five changes after the defeat to Sport-Club Freiburg. Sava-Arangel Cestic, Kingsley Ehizibue, Jannes Horn, Rafael Czichos and Dominick Drexler replaced Jorge Meré, Benno Schmitz, Salih Özcan, Ismail Jakobs and Anthony Modeste in the line-up. There were two former Hertha players in the home XI, Marius Wolf and Ondrej Duda.

The match carried the message of “Be who you are - together for diversity”, with both clubs sending a clear statement of acceptance and equal opportunities within society. Both captains led the teams out with rainbow-patterned armbands. The two sides felt their way into the match once it was underway, with 13 minutes passing by without incident before the first chance of note. Vladimír Darida fed Piątek with a through ball, with goalkeeper Horn rushing out to block the Pole’s effort. Two minutes later, the side from the Rhineland had their first chance, but Jonas Hector’s long-range effort was no problem at all for Alexander Schwolow (15’). The Berliners enjoyed the better of the minutes that followed, but the game was played mostly in midfield areas. The Köln goal was rarely threatened, while at the other end Wolf headed into the arms of Schwolow (18’). For Hertha, Dodi Lukébakio’s deflected shot went just a few feet wide of the post (31’). Just before the break, Hector shot past the left-hand post after receiving a pass from Wolf (45’), and with that the two teams headed for the dressing room with the game still goalless.
Guendouzi denied by the post
The second half wasn’t all that different from the first. The first sight of goal came 15 minutes after kick-off; the ‘Billy Goats’ combined down the right flank before Ehizibue sent a cross in towards Wolf. The 25-year-old’s attempt (60’) was well off-target, though. Shortly after that, Labbadia brought on the fresh legs of Matheus Cunha, replacing Dodi Lukébakio. Chances remained at a premium for both sides, however. An Omar Alderete header landed on the roof of the net after a cross from Mittelstädt (63’), before Cunha released Piątek ten minutes later. The striker’s effort whistled just a few centimetres past the post (75’). Seconds later, Guendouzi forced Horn into a great stop (76’); the Frenchman had the next opportunity as well, but the midfielder could only strike the upright with his effort (82’). Despite a strong finish from the visitors, the match finished 0-0.

Guendouzi denied by the post

The second half started in a similar vein to the first. The first sight of goal came 15 minutes after kick-off, when the ‘Billy Goats’ combined down the right flank and Ehizibue sent a cross in towards Wolf. The 25-year-old’s attempt (60’) was well off-target, though. Shortly after that, Labbadia brought on the fresh legs of Matheus Cunha, replacing Dodi Lukébakio. Chances remained at a premium for both sides, however. An Omar Alderete header landed on the roof of the net after a cross from Mittelstädt (63’), before Cunha released Piątek ten minutes later. The striker’s effort whistled just a few centimetres past the post (75’). Seconds later, Guendouzi forced Horn into a great stop (76’); the Frenchman had the next opportunity as well, but the midfielder could only strike the upright with his effort (82’). Despite a strong finish from the visitors, the match finished 0-0.

Photo gallery: Die Bilder zum Spiel: 1. FC Köln - Hertha BSC

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Hertha now have 17 points from 16 matchdays and sit in 13th place in the Bundesliga. The Old Lady are back in action in midweek when TSG Hoffenheim visit the Olympiastadion on Tuesday evening (19/01/21, 20:30 CET).
Highlights 1. Halbzeit
13’: A good chance for the Old Lady! Krzysztof Piątek is found by Vladimír Darida in the box, but Timo Horn saves the shot. One minute later, Peter Pekarík fires over from distance. More of that, lads!
15’: A first chance for 'Effzeh'. Hector tests Alexander Schwolow from range, but the former Germany international isn’t troubling our number 1.
31’: Ah, shame! A good run from Dodi Lukébakio, whose effort is deflected behind for a corner. Plenty of corners for Labbadia’s men this half.
45’: Half-time. 'Effzeh' had a good chance on the stroke of half-time through Hector, who shot wide of goal following Wolf’s pass.

13’: A good chance for the Old Lady! Krzysztof Piątek is found by Vladimír Darida in the box, but Timo Horn saves the shot. One minute later, Peter Pekarík fires over from distance. More of that, lads!

15’: A first chance for 'Effzeh'. Hector tests Alexander Schwolow from range, but the former Germany international isn’t troubling our number one.

31’: Ah, shame! A good run from Dodi Lukébakio, whose effort is deflected behind for a corner. Plenty of corners for Labbadia’s men this half.

45’: Half-time. 'Effzeh' had a good chance right before the whistle through Hector, who shot wide of goal following Wolf’s pass.

60’: And breathe. Köln play their way through with Ehizibue on the right, and it comes to Wolf in a dangerous position. Pekarík is there to put him off, though, and the effort is too high to find the far corner. Close call, that one.
63’: Mittelstädt sends it in and finds Omar Alderete, whose header is narrowly over. Goal-kick.
75’: Two really good chances for Hertha! Cunha plays Piątek through, and his shot from an angle whistles just wide of the far post. Only 30 seconds later Guendouzi has a go and draws a good save from Horn. That’s how it goes sometimes...
82’: Close! Guendouzi combines with Cunha on the edge of the box, but the post stands in his way. We’re getting closer!
90’: Guendouzi curls one from an inside-left position, but the bail sails wide.

60’: And breathe. Köln play their way through with Ehizibue on the right, and it comes to Wolf in a dangerous position. Pekarík is there to put him off, though, and the effort is too high to find the far corner. Close call, that one.

63’: Mittelstädt sends it in and finds Omar Alderete, whose header is narrowly over. Goal-kick.

75’: Two really good chances for Hertha! Cunha plays Piątek through, and his shot from an angle whistles just wide of the far post. Only 30 seconds later Guendouzi has a go and draws a good save from Horn. That’s how it goes sometimes...

82’: Close! Guendouzi combines with Cunha on the edge of the box, but the post stands in the way of his shot. We’re getting closer!

90’: Guendouzi curls one from an inside-left position, but the bail sails wide.

by Hertha BSC