Cologne and Werder Bremen shared a 1-1 draw at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Bundesliga Matchday 3, with Niclas Füllkrug’s 69th-minute finish cancelling out Linton Maina’s early opener.
Cologne 1-1 Werder Bremen: Füllkrug answers Maina
SEO Title: Cologne 1-1 Werder Bremen: Maina and Füllkrug score in Bundesliga draw
SEO Description: Cologne drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen on Matchday 3 after Linton Maina scored following Thijs Dallinga’s saved penalty and Niclas Füllkrug equalised from a corner.
Cologne had the first major moment in the sixth minute. Youri Regeer handled the ball in the Bremen area, but Karl Hein saved Dallinga’s low penalty to his left.
The hosts recovered quickly. Ellyes Skhiri supplied Maina in the 11th minute and the winger drove a low right-footed effort into the left corner from inside the box.
Hein was required again soon after, stopping Tom Krauß’s attempt following a Linton Maina pass. Mikey Moore then sent two efforts wide as Cologne looked for a second.
Bremen had their openings before the break. Niclas Füllkrug’s early header was saved, Eren Dinkçi narrowly missed from Marco Grüll’s delivery, and Amos Pieper fired off target. Chuki also failed to convert two corner situations.
Bremen pressure turns into an equaliser
Werder stepped up after the restart. Olivier Deman tested the Cologne goalkeeper twice, while Chuki forced a save after being picked out by Regeer.
The closest Bremen came before the goal arrived in the 58th minute. Füllkrug headed the ball into Dinkçi’s path and the forward struck the crossbar from the right side of the area.
Cologne responded with a strong spell. Dallinga had a close-range effort blocked, Moore saw a long-range shot saved, and Marius Bülter had attempts blocked and held.
But Bremen levelled from a 69th-minute corner. Pieper’s header was blocked after Chuki’s cross, before Füllkrug finished left-footed from the centre of the penalty area.
Both sides made use of their benches during the final half-hour. Cologne sent on Ragnar Ache, Ísak Jóhannesson and Sebastian Sebulonsen in the 64th and 65th minutes, with Saïd El Mala replacing Moore in the 74th. Paul Okon-Engstler came on for Krauß at the start of added time.
Werder introduced Dariusz Stalmach for Ludovit Reis, then brought on Cedric Itten and Mick Schmetgens for Füllkrug and Arthur. Regeer was forced off injured in the 83rd minute, replaced by Mitchell Weiser, while Paul Erevbenagie came on for Dinkçi.
Cologne pressed until the end. Ache had one close-range shot blocked in the 89th minute and headed another chance over in stoppage time after a Skhiri corner. Bremen’s Marco Grüll also sent a late free-kick over.
Gideon Mensah and Okon-Engstler were booked for Cologne. Bremen’s Deman received a yellow card. The match, played on Saturday 12 September 2026, finished level after four minutes of second-half added time.
