Cologne win relegation clash with Bremen, Stuttgart smile in third
Cologne's Isak Johannesson celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Cologne and Werder Bremen at RheinEnergieStadion. Marius Becker/dpa Cologne eased their Bundesliga relegation fears on Sunday with a 3-1 home win over 10-man Werder Bremen, who remain three points above the danger zone.
VfB Stuttgart meanwhile moved above RB Leipzig into third place on goal difference with a 4-0 home romp over mid-table SV Hamburg. In the late game, Mainz take on Freiburg. Cologne's victory was their first in nine matches and first under interim coach René Wagner after last weekend's 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt in his opening game in charge.
Saïd El Mala netted his first top-flight penalty for the Billy Goats early on after Olivier Deman fouled Jakub Kamiński. The Germany under-21 winger has 11 Bundesliga goals this season after a third in four games. "The three points have done wonders for the whole squad.
We deserved it," the 19-year-old told DAZN. "We played the better game. " Things got worse for Bremen midway through the first half when skipper Marco Friedl was sent off for a professional foul and the visitors barely threatened thereafter.
Cologne made it 2-0 through Ragnar Ache on 65 minutes but the striker later conceded a spot-kick which Romano Schmid converted. Ísak Jóhannesson secured Cologne's victory in stoppage time. Bremen host Hamburg in a crucial northern derby next Saturday without their captain in an already injury-hit defence.