1. FC Köln battled back twice to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw against high-flying 1899 Hoffenheim at the RheinEnergieSTADION. A late equalizer from Said El Mala ensured the points were shared in a thrilling Bundesliga encounter.
The hosts showed immense resilience on February 21, 2026. They denied their in-form opponents a crucial away victory.
Hoffenheim arrived in excellent form, sitting third in the Bundesliga table. They aimed to solidify their Champions League ambitions. Conversely, 1. FC Köln occupied 12th position, seeking vital points to climb away from the relegation zone. Their recent performances were inconsistent.
Köln started brightly, defying their league standing. Their early pressure paid off in the 15th minute. Forward Ragnar Ache slotted home a precise finish. Said El Mala provided the assist, setting the home crowd alight.
Hoffenheim pushed for an equalizer, controlling more of the ball. Defender Albian Hajdari received a yellow card for a rough challenge in the 42nd minute. This reflected the increasing intensity.
Just before the break, Hoffenheim found their breakthrough. Ozan Kabak headed in from a set-piece in the 45th minute. Hajdari atoned for his card by providing the assist. This brought the score level at 1-1 at halftime.
The late equalizer gave Hoffenheim momentum heading into the interval. Köln needed to reset and regain their defensive composure for the second half.
The second half began with immediate drama. Hoffenheim thought they had taken the lead through Wouter Burger in the 59th minute. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review. The decision kept the score at 1-1.
Undaunted, Hoffenheim struck moments later. Andrej Kramarić fired his team ahead in the 60th minute. He capitalized on a defensive lapse. It looked like the visitors would finally pull away.
Yet, Köln refused to yield. Just three minutes later, in the 63rd minute, Said El Mala netted the equalizer for Köln. Jakub Kamiński delivered a perfectly weighted assist. This quickly restored parity to the pulsating match.
The final quarter saw both teams chase a winner. Substitutions were made to inject fresh legs. Yellow cards were shown to Vladimír Coufal and Cenk Ozkacar for rough play. Hoffenheim's Marvin Moerstedt also saw yellow deep into stoppage time.
Hoffenheim dominated possession with 64%, reflecting their attacking intent. They managed 17 total shots, with 5 on target. Köln, however, were more efficient, scoring twice from just 9 total shots and 4 on target. Hoffenheim’s expected goals (xG) stood at 1.35 compared to Köln’s 1.09, suggesting the draw was a fair reflection of chances created.
This 2-2 draw is a significant point for 1. FC Köln in their fight for Bundesliga survival. For Hoffenheim, it represents two dropped points in their quest for a top-three finish, despite their statistical superiority.
