5 Talking Points from Matchweek 13 of the Bundesliga

#5 Are Cologne dead and buried already?

Cologne looks to be dead certain for relegation unless a miracle happens

The 27th and final goal of Matchday13 went to Hertha Berlin’s Vedad Ibisevic from the spot after the Bosnian opened the scoring in the first-half against a hapless Cologne.

Qualifying for Europe for the first time in 25 years has taken its toll on the Billy Goats who remain rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga, winless in 13 games – a Bundesliga record.

During the 2016/17 season, we saw Hamburg pick up their first win of the season in week 13 and while a win on Sunday night would have been morale-boosting for Cologne, they lacked any attacking threat and were lackadaisical at the back.

Their defeat against Hertha Berlin means they are now six points behind 17th placed Werder Bremen, while they’re currently 11 points off safety and being this early in the season, it’s not looking pretty for fans of Germany’s fourth largest club.

Cologne are clearly missing Anthony Modeste who departed for the Chinese Super League in the summer. Last season, the Frenchman scored 25 of Cologne’s 51 Bundesliga goals, while they’ve scored just four in 13 games this season.

It doesn’t get any easier next weekend either with a visit to Schalke this weekend, it’s now or never for Cologne and Peter Stoger.