Cologne Football Club leads strong: 4-nil victory over Atalanta Bergamo - Cologne suffers a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Atalanta Bergamo in their earliest encounter
1. FC Cologne End Preseason on a High Note with Impressive 4-0 Win Against Atalanta Bergamo
- FC Cologne, the newcomers to the Bundesliga, have concluded their preseason on a strong note with a comprehensive 4-0 victory against Atalanta Bergamo. The match, attended by 40,100 spectators, saw Cologne dominate throughout, showcasing their superiority against a team that participated in last season's Champions League.
The German side demonstrated an excellent readiness and attacking sharpness, creating numerous scoring opportunities and capitalising on defensive lapses by Atalanta. Key players like Jan Thielmann stood out, scoring a brace, while Jakub Kaminski and Luca Waldschmidt also got on the scoresheet.
Cologne's performance was lauded as "wonderful" with an "easy, almost too easy" display against Atalanta. The 4-0 scoreline, which included a penalty by Waldschmidt, reflected Cologne's clinical attacking and solid game management.
Atalanta, on the other hand, struggled to find their footing, with their offensive spark lacking throughout the match. They managed only a single shot off the post, raising concerns about their preseason form. Cologne's defensive solidity and quick attacks seemed to exploit Atalanta’s defensive mistakes repeatedly, suggesting a high tactical discipline.
This impressive performance positions Cologne well as they prepare for their competitive season. The upcoming matches include a DFB-Pokal game against second-tier relegation side Jahn Regensburg, scheduled for next Sunday, followed by the Bundesliga kickoff against FSV Mainz 05 a week later.
In addition to this, Cologne has recently announced the signing of Turkish national player Cenk Özkacar for defense. Özkacar, who is 24 years old, will be loaned from Spanish traditional club FC Valencia until the end of the season.
Under the guidance of coach Lukas Kwasniok, Cologne's early form in the 2025 preseason has been very strong and impressive, boding well for their upcoming competitive season. Despite some internal squad decisions, such as excluding Imad Rondic from this squad for tactical reasons, the team seems to be in good shape and full of confidence.
The European leagues might find the newcomers, 1. FC Cologne, to be a formidable opponent this season, considering their impressive preseason performances. The Commission has also been informed of the progress made in the implementation of environmental measures by the Member States, which could have a positive impact on the sports sector, including football leagues.
