FC Köln Vs RB Leipzig Player Ratings: Baumgartner Brace Secures Away Win in 2-1 Thriller

At the RheinEnergieStadion, RB Leipzig edged past FC Köln with a hard-fought 2–1 victory in an absorbing Bundesliga encounter that swung on fine margins. The scoreline reflected a contest where Leipzig’s clinical edge proved decisive against a Köln side that matched them for intensity and fight across large spells of the game.

The match progressed and flowed, with both teams enjoying moments of control, but Leipzig were sharper when it mattered most. Christoph Baumgartner emerged as the difference-maker, his movement and composure in the box setting him apart.

Leipzig struck first, but Köln roared back early in the second half through Jan Thielmann, igniting the home crowd and shifting the momentum. Just as Köln sensed a turnaround, Leipzig responded ruthlessly. Baumgartner’s second goal, scored barely five minutes later, delivered a decisive blow.

Despite Köln pushing hard and creating chances of their own, they lacked the final touch, while Leipzig managed the closing stages with composure and maturity.

Here are Sportsdunia’s FC Köln vs RB Leipzig Player Ratings from this thrilling Bundesliga clash.

Key Takeaways

• Leipzig’s efficiency made the difference, as they converted key moments while Köln struggled for a cutting edge.
• Christoph Baumgartner was decisive, scoring twice and stepping up whenever the game swung in the balance.
• Köln showed fight and intensity, especially after the break, but Leipzig’s composure in game management sealed the win.

RB Leipzig Player Ratings vs FC Köln

Here's a look at the RB Leipzig Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Péter Gulácsi - 6.5: Had very little to do for large spells of the game. He couldn't do anything about the goal he conceded. Made one key save and was generally tidy with his distribution, though his yellow card was unnecessary. A quiet but solid day.

Defenders

Willi Orbán - 7.5: A colossal performance at the back. We noticed he was an absolute monster in the air, winning 8 of his 9 aerial duels. He made an astonishing 19 clearances, constantly repelling Köln's attacks. A real leader's performance when his team needed it.

Nicolas Seiwald - 7.0: Composed and efficient alongside Orbán. His 10 clearances and 3 interceptions were crucial in breaking up Köln's rhythm. He was calm on the ball, completing 90% of his passes. A very mature and understated display.

David Raum - 8.0: Immense attacking output from the left-back. He provided the assist for the first goal and created an incredible 5 chances for his teammates. He was a constant outlet on the wing, though he did get booked for a cynical foul.

Benjamin Henrichs - 6.0: A fairly quiet game before being substituted. He was solid enough defensively but didn't offer the same attacking threat as Raum on the opposite flank. He lost possession a few too many times for our liking. An average outing.

Midfielders

Brajan Gruda - 6.5: Showed some bright sparks and was always looking to get involved. He worked hard off the ball, winning 5 duels and making 3 tackles. However, his final product was lacking at times. A decent but not spectacular performance.

Christoph Baumgartner - 9.0: The highest-rated player and an easy Man of the Match. What stood out to us was his clinical nature, scoring two vital goals from his three shots on target. Beyond that, he was a machine in midfield, winning 12 duels and making 5 tackles. A complete, match-winning performance.

Xaver Schlager - 8.0: An outstanding midfield partner for Baumgartner. He provided a sublime through-ball assist for the winning goal. He controlled the tempo of the game beautifully and recovered the ball 7 times. A classy and influential display from start to finish.

Forwards

Antonio Nusa - 7.0: A livewire on the wing who caused problems with his dribbling. He created a big chance and was unlucky to hit the woodwork. The only downside was his tendency to lose the ball, but his creativity was a major asset for his team.

Rômulo - 5.5: A frustrating afternoon for the striker. He was desperately unlucky to hit the post in the first half. From our perspective, he seemed to snatch at his chances after that, missing another big opportunity. His effort was there but the execution was not.

Yan Diomande - 7.5: Absolutely terrorized the Köln defence with his dribbling, completing 8 of his 10 attempts. He was a constant menace, creating two chances for his teammates. He was let down by his finishing, but his ability to create chaos was invaluable.

Substitutes

Ridle Baku - 6.0: Came on and did a job. Nothing spectacular but helped see the game out.

Conrad Harder - 5.5: Didn't really get into the game after coming on.

Manager

O. Werner - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly. His team weathered the storm and was clinical when it mattered. The substitutions were sensible to manage the lead. A very professional away win orchestrated by the manager.

FC Köln Player Ratings vs RB Leipzig

Let's take a look at the FC Köln Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Marvin Schwäbe - 6.5: Could do little about either goal. He made a crucial save early on to deny Baumgartner from point-blank range. His distribution was decent and he commanded his box well. A solid effort despite the loss.

Defenders

Eric Martel - 6.0: A difficult day against a fluid Leipzig attack. He struggled in the air, winning only 2 of his 9 aerial duels. Made some important clearances but was caught out of position for the second goal. A mixed bag of a performance.

Sebastian Sebulonsen - 6.0: He worked hard down the flank but struggled to contain the likes of Nusa and Diomande. He lost possession 17 times which put his team under pressure. A battling performance but one that lacked quality.

Jan Thielmann - 7.0: Took his goal brilliantly, a fantastic finish to bring his team level. He was a threat going forward, but picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge. He faded a little as the game went on before being substituted.

Kristoffer Lund - 6.5: Provided a decent attacking outlet from the back, creating two chances with some good crosses. He was solid defensively for the most part, making 8 clearances. A respectable performance before he was taken off.

Cenk Özkacar - 6.0: An okay performance. He was strong in his tackles but seemed to struggle with the movement of Leipzig's attackers. His passing was a bit wayward, leading to a loss of possession 14 times. An area for improvement.

Midfielders

Tom Krauß - 7.5: A brilliant defensive midfield display. We were so impressed by his tenacity, winning 10 duels and making 6 tackles. He was everywhere, breaking up play and trying to start attacks. One of Köln's best players on the day.

Jakub Kamiński - 6.5: He was busy and created a couple of chances, but his final ball was often lacking. He worked tirelessly for the team, making three tackles. A performance full of effort, if not end product.

Ísak Jóhannesson - 6.5: Provided the assist for Thielmann's goal and looked tidy in possession before his substitution. He contributed defensively with a couple of tackles. It was a surprise to see him taken off when he was.

Forwards

Ragnar Ache - 7.0: A real battering ram up front. He was a nightmare for the Leipzig defence, winning an incredible 12 duels and 9 aerial battles. What let him down was his finishing, as he couldn't convert his physical dominance into a goal. A massive handful, but not clinical enough.

Said El Mala - 5.0: This was a day to forget. From our perspective, his confidence seemed to drain after missing two big chances. He lost the ball far too often and was caught offside twice. He just couldn't get into the game at all.

Substitutes

Marius Bülter - 6.0: Added some energy but couldn't make a decisive impact.

Luca Waldschmidt - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Felipe Chávez - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

L. Kwasniok - 6.5: His team showed great character to get back into the game. The tactics were brave, but they were ultimately undone by individual quality. Perhaps he could have made changes more quickly to stem the tide after Leipzig's second goal.

Man of the Match

Christoph Baumgartner was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Said El Mala for FC Köln had a difficult game.