Achim Beierlorzer's favorite word in recent weeks has been "time". This would need the coach newly engaged in the summer to give the 1. FC Cologne his game idea. Again and again he brought his message under the supporters: The club was a climber, miracles are not expected. He referred to the heavy opening program, which provided opponents such as Bayern Munich, and Schalke 04.
And yet: The euphoric after the rise supporters had presented the return to the Bundesliga otherwise. Four points from seven games, acute danger of relegation: The game against Paderborn already had a light endgame character.
Beierlorzer should have fallen on Sunday afternoon so many stones from the heart that they could build a new cathedral in Cologne smooth. Finally, the Cologne played as he had imagined: In the midfield they bothered the fellow-promoted from Paderborn aggressively, after ball winning they played directly the pass into the depths. Cologne had only a little more than 40 percent possession, but won significantly more tackles - and scored three goals above all.
Cologne's clear 3-0 win is also reflected in our team of the week. Four Cologne residents have made the leap into the Topelf. With Mainz and Dusseldorf now waiting two opponents who are close to Cologne in the table. Beierlorzer will do his utmost to keep his players motivated and aggressive in the upcoming games.
Actually, Frederik Rönnow is only number two in Frankfurt. The injured number one Trapp would probably have done better against Bayer Leverkusen. Rönnow had to intervene ten times, not a single attempt Leverkusen landed in the Frankfurt box. Rönnow contributed his part to a clear 3-0 victory.
The central defense will face two youngsters this weekend. Sebastiaan Bornauw reached the highest possible SPIX of 100. The Cologne scored not only a goal, but also caught three opposing passes. Union Berlin's Keven Schlotterbeck failed to score in the 2-0 win over his former club SC Freiburg, but his defensive stats are a tad better than those of Bornauw: he blocked three shots and also conceded five opposing passes.
Kingsley Ehizibeu's hard-to-pronounce name challenges his teammates. They baptized him quickly. He is only called "Easy" in the Cologne team - and so is his playing style. As a right-back he shows a refreshing offensive urge, even in the opposing half he throws himself in any duel. He led nine tackles against Paderborn, more than any other Bundesliga player on the weekend. He won six. Fortuna Dusseldorf's Nico Gießelmann convinced, however, as a preparer: He played against Mainz the goal for the crucial 1-0.
It's a little bit since Jonas Hector was the undisputed regular in the national team. Most recently, he lost his place as left-back to Marcel Halstenberg. Maybe Hector can attack in a new position? Cologne coach Beierlorzer currently puts him in central midfield. Here Hector convinced against Paderborn completely: He succeeded 13 times to conquer second balls, more than any other Bundesliga player at the weekend. His high SPIX in the field of ball conquest qualifies him for the Topelf.
Who would have thought two years ago that Serge Gnabry would one day stand out in the star ensemble of the Bavarians? The formerly ridiculed Gnabry has long since established itself. As an inward-pulling right winger, he brings a train to the gate; a facet that misses the possession-biased Bayern game. In the 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg Gnabry prepared Bayern's first goal, the second he scored himself, in the manner of Arjen Robben. Borussia Dortmund's Thorgan Hazard did not score as high as Gnabry. He prepared in the 1-0 victory against league leaders Borussia Mönchengladbach after all a goal and four other chances.
Louis Schaub is something like the personified Cologne season. So far, the attacking midfielder has been unable to confirm his strong performances in the second division in the highest class. Against Paderborn succeeded him - like the entire Cologne Elf - the breakthrough: Schaub played free, was very present at counterattacks and dribbled out his opponent. Four of his six dribbles were successful, and he also scored his first Bundesliga goal.
A matchday without goal by Robert Lewandowski ? Unthinkable this season. On Matchday 8, the Pole scored his twelfth goal of the season. He has set a record of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: The former Dortmund was in the 2015/16 season, the only player in Bundesliga history, who always met in the first eight games. Until Lewandowski came. Although Ilhas Bebou only has two goals this season. For he was instrumental in the 2-0 victory of his Hoffenheim against Schalke: The opening goal led the half-time substitute Bebou, the score to 2: 0 he scored himself.