Derby day in the Rhineland almost began disastrously for the visitors as Timo Hübers, and Marin Schwäbe crossed their wires. Gladbach was soon in front as Marvin Friedrich planted Jonas Hofmann’s corner into the top corner, but their lead lasted just four minutes. Florian Kainz pulled Cologne level from the penalty spot, sending Yann Sommer the wrong way from 12 yards to make it 1-1.
Kainz went from hero to villain on the stroke of half-time as he was given his marching orders for a foul on Hofmann, a mistake made worse as Bensebaini stepped up from the resulting penalty to reclaim the Foals’ lead.
It took Daniel Farke’s team less than two minutes to add a third after the break. The visitors were caught cold trying to play their way out from the back, with the ball ultimately landing at the feet of captain Lars Stindl, who turned and rocketed a stunning strike from 20 yards out into the back of the net via a kiss of the post.
Bensebaini added his second – and his team’s fourth – before Denis Huseinbasic’s consolation was undoubtedly put to bed by Thuram’s injury-time goal. The victory moves Gladbach into fifth place, just two points off the top spot, while Steffen Baumgart’s men drop to ninth on the back of their second league defeat – a further two points back from their victorious hosts from up the road.
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