Cologne beat Schalke
October 4, 2015
Schalke 0-3 Cologne
(Modeste 45', Gerhardt 79', Zoller 84')
Schalke entered their home match against their Rhineland opponents Cologne on a four-game winning streak that had re-established their ambitions to return to the Champions League in 2016. For their part, however, Cologne are much improved side this season and got off to the brighter start.
One of the key changes Cologne coach Peter Stöger made in the summer was to bolster his attack, having lost Anthony Ujah to Werder Bremen, by bringing in Anthony Modeste from Hoffenheim. And the French forward narrowly missed staking the visitors to the lead with a pair of chances in the 26th and 27th minutes.
Schalke's best opportunity came only a minute later, when striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar headed a cross into the side netting. But it was the Billy Goats grabbing the lead just before the break, through their new front-man. Leandro Bittencourt released Modeste who beat Ralf Fährmann from 13 meters out. It was the first goal Schalke had conceded in four league matches.
By the middle of the second half, Schalke had almost two-thirds of possession. What the Royal Blues didn't have was an answer for Cologne's defense. A Johannes Geis free-kick forced Timo Horn into a nice save fifteen minutes from time, but otherwise the visitors looked remarkably comfortable. And 21-year-old Yannick Gerhardt sealed the win for the Billy Goats with a composed goal, beating two defenders inside the box with 10 minutes to play. Simon Zoller then completed the 3-0 scoreline on a counter-attack three minutes after that.
The result sees Cologne move into the top third of the table. Schalke tread water in third place behind rivals Dortmund in second.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Augsburg
(Leno og 10', Bellarabi 39')
In what had to be considered one of the most thankless tasks in football, Leverkusen squared off against Augsburg at the same time Bayern were battering Dortmund in Munich. Leverkusen were looking to get in the top four, while Europa League participants Augsburg were trying to generate some momentum after a disappointing season start.
They were given precisely that by Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno who scored an own goal in the opening quarter of an hour. The ball bobbled over the top of his foot while he was attempting to kick it up-field from a pass-back, ensuring that Leno will feature in this season's bloopers reels, days after being called up to Joachim Löw's latest Germany squad.
It took until shortly before the half for Leverkusen to find an equalizer. Javier Hernandez's shot, which rebounded off the post, was met by Karim Bellarabi who sent the teams into the dressing rooms level at 1-1.
Leverkusen were the dominant side against a desperately defending Augsburg, getting off 22 shots on goal to just three for their opponents. But they squandered their best opportunity to claim all three points.
On 71 minutes, Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker handled the ball in the area. But Hakan Calhanoglu slipped on his penalty and blasted the ball over the crossbar.
Augsburg held on to the 1-1 draw and all currently third from bottom. Leverkusen are in a disappointing seventh.