1. FC Köln secured a 2:1 win in their friendly against FC Lugano on Monday afternoon in Spain. The game is the only friendly fixture before the return to competitive action on Saturday in the Bundesliga.
After a minute’s silence for those 40 people who lost their lives in the tragic bar fire on New Year’s Eve in Crans-Montana, the game began with both sides trying to find their feet.
Lugano failed to trouble Marvin Schwäbe despite getting into decent positions, and it was FC who took the chance to take the lead. Jan Thielmann burst down the right-hand side before crossing low towards Marius Bülter 12 yards out. He swept the ball into the far bottom corner to edge FC ahead in the 28th minute.
The second-half brought 11 new players onto the pitch. FC were finding it hard to get into a rhythm in the early stages and Lugano took advantage. 10 minutes after the restart, Zachary Brault-Guillard picked out Kevin Behrens in the middle, who headed home from close range at the back post.
From there on, FC picked up the pace and continued to trouble the Lugano defence. However, the final pass or shot was lacking. That changed in the 80th minute as a long ball was flicked on by Linton Maina. He lifted the pass over the oncoming Diego Mina and passed into an open goal to secure the win for FC.
Lukas Kwasniok’s side are next in action on Saturday, 10th January against 1. FC Heidenheim. Kick-off at the Voith-Arena is at 15:30 CET.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln first-half (3-4-2-1): Schwäbe – Sebulonsen, Martel, Heintz – Thielmann, Jóhannesson, Huseinbašić, Castro-Montes – Kamiński, Bülter – Schenten.
1. FC Köln second-half (3-4-2-1): Zieler – Mausehund, van den Berg, Cenk – Maina, Kainz, Krauß, Lund – Waldschmidt, El Mala – Ache.
Goals: 1:0, Bülter 28‘. 1:1, Behrens 56‘. 2:1, Maina 80‘.