Bundesliga: Modeste gives Cologne three points for Christmas

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Jonas Hector (left) in a duel with Omar Marmoush

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Marius Becker / dpa

The last game in the first half of the Bundesliga seemed to be one of the least memorable for a long time: For almost 88 minutes there were no goals between 1. FC Köln and VfB Stuttgart, then Anthony Modeste was there with his eleventh goal of the season.

The Cologne go into the short winter break as a positive phenomenon, just one point behind the European Cup places - Stuttgart is in acute need of relegation and occupies the relegation place 16.

In the first ten minutes a fast-paced, entertaining game with clear advantages for 1. FC Köln seemed to develop: Anthony Modeste's first alleged goal was only missed because of a previous handball by Florian Kainz (3rd minute). Seven minutes later, Louis Schaub volleyed the ball under the crossbar, but because Modeste had been offside during the formation, this goal did not count either.

So the Cologne team was denied an early goal and the game has now flattened out.

Stuttgart came into the game better, but not greater chances - the best opportunity failed right from the start when Mateo Klimowicz needed far too long to continue a promising attack despite a lot of space and time (20th).

Before the break, the eye-catching Kainz was in focus again, who hit a hook on the left flank and found Modeste in the six-yard area with a cross, which the Cologne top scorer did not bring on goal (41.).

Second half almost uneventful - except for Modeste

After the break, almost nothing happened to pull the 15,000 spectators in Cologne out of their seats.

Modeste moved again from eight meters (73rd), Stuttgart counterattacks failed due to a lack of precision.

It was only shortly before the end that a cross from substitute Kingsley Schindler Modeste found at the penalty spot, the Frenchman headed to victory (88th).

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