Ebnoutalib's late winner gives Hutter's Frankfurt 1-0 win over Cologne six days after 6-0 Leipzig rout

Eintracht Frankfurt answered a week of criticism in the best way on Friday night, 16 October, beating 1. FC Koln 1-0 at Deutsche Bank Park to open Bundesliga matchday six. Younes Ebnoutalib scored the only goal in the 77th minute, giving Adi Hutter's side their second league win of the season and their first clean sheet, just six days after a 6-0 hammering at RB Leipzig. For fans in Malaysia, the match kicked off at 2.30am on Saturday.

A response after Leipzig

Hutter made three changes from the side humiliated in Leipzig, bringing in Fares Chaibi, Mario Gotze and Ebnoutalib. The coach had demanded that his players fight to the final whistle, and the reaction was clear in a much tighter, more aggressive display.

It still took a long time to break Cologne down. The visitors started brightly, and Marius Bulter was played clean through within seconds of kick-off, only to be denied by Frankfurt goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. Bulter went close again around the half-hour mark when he met a free kick at the near post, and Atubolu again made the save. At the other end Chaibi and Ebnoutalib both tested Marvin Schwabe, and the sides went in level at half-time.

Ebnoutalib finally finds a way

Frankfurt dominated the second half. Ebnoutalib, Chaibi and Brassier all had efforts kept out by Schwabe before the breakthrough arrived in the 77th minute. Frankfurt won the ball high up the pitch, substitute Noel Aseko slipped a pass through, and Ebnoutalib finished from a tight angle.

Cologne pushed for an equaliser late on, with substitute Reigan Heskey among those trying to find a way past Atubolu, but the hosts held on. The official Bundesliga match data underlined Frankfurt's control: they produced 1.68 expected goals to Cologne's 0.49. Ebnoutalib was voted man of the match with 60 per cent of the fan vote.

Milestone for Atubolu, tough night for Koln

Atubolu marked his 100th Bundesliga appearance with a clean sheet, and his early saves from Bulter were arguably as important as the winning goal. Several German outlets described the result as Frankfurt's first home league win since March, which explains the relief around the stadium at full-time.

Cologne coach Rene Wagner had been forced into changes of his own. Tom Krauss came in for the injured Ellyes Skhiri, and Joel Schmied made his first start of the season. Schwabe was Cologne's best player, keeping the score respectable with a series of second-half stops.

What it means in the table

Frankfurt went into the round 14th with five points from five games. The win takes them to eight points, moving them above Cologne, who stay on seven. Final positions after matchday six will depend on the rest of the weekend's fixtures, including Bayern Munich against RB Leipzig on Saturday, 17 October, which kicks off at 6.30pm in Germany (12.30am Sunday, Malaysia time).

Key takeaways

• Eintracht Frankfurt beat 1. FC Koln 1-0 on Friday, 16 October, at Deutsche Bank Park.
• Younes Ebnoutalib scored in the 77th minute after an assist from substitute Noel Aseko.
• It was Frankfurt's second league win and first clean sheet of the season, six days after losing 6-0 at Leipzig.
• Noah Atubolu kept a clean sheet in his 100th Bundesliga game.
• Frankfurt move to eight points, one ahead of Cologne.

FAQ

What was the score in Frankfurt v Cologne? Eintracht Frankfurt won 1-0. Younes Ebnoutalib scored the only goal in the 77th minute.

What time did Frankfurt v Cologne kick off in Malaysia? The match kicked off at 8.30pm in Germany on Friday, 16 October, which was 2.30am on Saturday, 17 October, in Malaysia.

How many points do Frankfurt have after the win? Frankfurt have eight points from six Bundesliga games, one more than Cologne.

Sources: Bundesliga.com, ZDFheute, Badische Zeitung, Hessenschau