Alexander Blessin’s first Bundesliga match as Borussia Mönchengladbach coach ended in a 2-1 defeat at Cologne, leaving the club without a point after five matches and at the bottom of the table. The result extended a disastrous opening to the season and made the Rhine derby an immediate test of whether Blessin can repair a team weakened by injuries and a lack of attacking depth.
Cologne took the lead in the 26th minute when Ísak Jóhannesson met a partially cleared free-kick with a first-time shot into the top corner. Gladbach levelled 13 minutes later after Lukas Ullrich’s cross found Joe Scally at the far post, but the visitors were increasingly pressed back after halftime.
Saïd El Mala restored Cologne’s lead in the 67th minute. After a misplaced pass by Florian Neuhaus, Linton Maina sent the forward clear, allowing El Mala to cut in from the left and curl a right-footed shot beyond Moritz Nicolas. Gladbach created late openings through Hugo Bolin and Zento Uno, but Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe kept them out during six minutes of added time.
His goal was his first since the opening day, following a difficult spell that he said had strengthened his determination to keep pushing. The Germany international scored 13 times in 20 league starts as a teenager last season and now leads a Cologne attack that has already produced a decisive figure Gladbach lack.
Blessin had only a short period to work with his squad during the international break and made two changes to the team beaten by Mainz, retaining a 3-4-2-1 system. Franck Honorat, Tim Kleindienst and Ko Itakura were unavailable, limiting his options as he tried to introduce the demanding defensive principles that helped keep St Pauli competitive during his previous tenure.
Cologne’s victory moved them to seven points, while Gladbach’s goal difference fell to minus 11. The club’s next league assignment is against Hoffenheim, who slipped to a 2-3 home defeat by Hamburg after Miro Muheim’s stoppage-time strike and have lost four of their first five league matches. Freiburg lead the Bundesliga on goal difference from Borussia Dortmund, both clubs having 13 points after five games.