Cologne celebrates a 7-1 win in the first test under coach Kwasniok!

Cologne celebrates a 7-1 win in the first test under coach Kwasniok!

On July 12, 2025, 1. FC Köln held its first friendly match under new coach Lukas Kwasniok. There was a fantastic 7-1 win against SV Bergisch Gladbach, a top league team, which thrilled the around 5,000 spectators in the sold-out Belkaw Arena. Kwasniok, who took over as coach in the spring, demanded hard work, creativity and enthusiasm from his team. This recipe seemed to work, as Cologne got off to a furious start and were able to take a 3-0 lead in the first 18 minutes.

Kwasniok's lineup was anything but monotonous. Playing through two different formations showed his experimental nature. The first goals came from Linton Maina, who scored in the 13th and 16th minutes. Steffen Tigges contributed the third goal with an impressive long-range shot in the 18th minute. But no performance is perfect: Claudio Heider scored the next goal for Bergisch Gladbach in the 21st minute, which was made possible by a mistake by keeper Schwäbe.

The start of a new adventure

This test match was Cologne's first step into the upcoming Bundesliga season. After a disappointing last season in which coach Steffen Baumgart was fired and relegation could not be averted, it is now up to Kwasniok to bring a breath of fresh air into the team. He was able to bring in a few new faces straight away, including Youssoupha Niang, who replaced Imad Rondic after 30 minutes, and Ragnar Ache, the new signing from Kaiserslautern, who made it 4-1 after half-time, just 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute.

Youngsters Etienne Borie, Julian Pauli and Fayssal Harchaoui also found their way into the game. Borie scored in the 57th minute from a cross from Jakub Kaminski, while Harchaoui confidently increased the score to 6-1. Luca Waldschmidt finally topped the list of goalscorers in the 84th minute to make the final score 7-1. Such success can only be good for the team.

Preparation for the new season

The coming weeks will be crucial for 1. FC Köln. The club has big plans to prepare for the new season. The summer break began on June 21st with comprehensive performance diagnostics and medical examinations, and the first training session took place on June 24th. The team will be accommodated in the training camp in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria, from July 21st to 28th to strengthen the necessary fitness and team spirit. Managing director Christian Keller was optimistic about the conditions that the Cologne team will find for their preparation.

The squad has a number of test matches ahead of them, including matches against Sportfreunde Siegen, Union Nettetal and international opponents such as Swansea City. These games provide further opportunities for Kwasniok to shape and strengthen his team before the 2nd-4th. The start of the 2nd Bundesliga is coming up in August.

After the final whistle there was a little emotional moment when children rushed onto the pitch to get autographs from their idols. Such events create a bond between team and fans that could be crucial for the coming season.

It will be exciting to see how 1. FC Köln develops in the coming weeks and whether the positive mood from this first test match can be carried over into the league broadcasts.

Visit the articles on Picture, Express and 90min for more information.