Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27' | Hoffenheim | Goal — A. Daghim (assist: B. Conte) | 0-1 | |
| 51' | Köln | Goal — S. El Mala | 1-1 | |
| 53' | Hoffenheim | Substitution — Bernardo on, R. Hranac off | 1-1 | |
| 53' | Hoffenheim | Substitution — A. Hlozek on, M. Moerstedt off | 1-1 | |
| 57' | Hoffenheim | Goal — Max Moerstedt | 1-2 | |
| 65' | Köln | Substitution — P. Okon-Engstler on, E. Skhiri off | 1-2 | |
| 65' | Köln | Substitution — S. El Mala on, L. Maina off | 1-2 | |
| 66' | Köln | Substitution — R. Ache on, T. Dallinga off | 1-2 | |
| 67' | Hoffenheim | Goal — O. Kabak (assist: V. Coufal) | 1-3 | |
| 71' | Hoffenheim | Substitution — P. Wimmer on, N. De Cat off | 1-3 | |
| 72' | Köln | Goal — T. Dallinga (assist: L. Maina) | 2-3 | |
| 82' | Köln | Goal — T. Dallinga | 3-3 | |
| 83' | Hoffenheim | Ozan Kabak | 3-3 | |
| 87' | Hoffenheim | Substitution — A. Hajdari on, M. Rots off | 3-3 | |
| 87' | Hoffenheim | Substitution — A. Daghim on, A. Kramaric off | 3-3 | |
| 90+4' | Hoffenheim | Max Moerstedt | 3-3 | |
| 90+3' | Köln | Substitution — A. Castro-Montes on, J. Schmied off | 3-3 | |
| 90' | Köln | Substitution — T. Krauss on, M. Bulter off | 3-3 |
Köln trailed at the break after Hoffenheim edged the first half and led 1-0 at the interval, but the hosts came storming back in front of their own fans at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Saturday, 29 August 2026 to win 3-2. Hoffenheim had shaded the possession stats and looked the sharper side early on, but Köln's response after half-time turned the game on its head. Six shots on target from eighteen attempts told the story of a team that kept probing until the goals came. Thijs Dallinga was at the heart of it all, picking up the Man of the Match award with a rating of 9.2 that barely does justice to his impact. His movement dragged Hoffenheim's defence all over the place and gave Köln the edge when it mattered most. It's a big three points for a side that looked second-best for long spells, and one that will do wonders for confidence going into the next round of fixtures.
The Matchup
Köln beat Hoffenheim 3-2 at RheinEnergieSTADION, and the numbers from the match back up how the game played out. Köln also had the better share of the ball, holding 41% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 18 attempts from Köln against 15 from Hoffenheim over the course of the game. Hoffenheim had their moments and did not make it easy from start to finish, but ultimately came up short on the day. Small margins like this one tend to add up over a season, and results such as this are often what separates teams in the table further down the line. Here is a closer look at exactly how the two sides compared, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Köln vs Hoffenheim Lineups
Looking Ahead
Köln have a quick chance to build on this result. Their next test comes at home to Mönchengladbach, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when Köln vs Mönchengladbach going to play at 11 October 2026 in Bundesliga 2026-27.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, does not have long to wait before getting back out onto the pitch. They are next in action away at Mönchengladbach, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Mönchengladbach vs Hoffenheim going to play at 18 October 2026 in Bundesliga 2026-27.