FC Köln secured their first win in four league games after defeating SC Freiburg 1-0 on Wednesday evening at the RheinEnergieStadion.
The Cologne side started the match strongly and had several chances to break through early on. However, they couldn't find the breakthrough until the 29th minute when substitute Christian Pape scored from a corner kick.
Pape's goal was crucial as it gave Cologne breathing space and lifted their spirits ahead of the difficult game against Eintracht Frankfurt next weekend.
Cologne head coach Thomas Tuchel praised his team for their performance: "I'm very happy with how we played today. We showed that we can still compete and get results. Now we need to keep this up and focus on our next game."
Meanwhile, Freiburg manager Markus Böcker expressed disappointment with the result: "It was a tough game, but we didn't have enough quality to score a goal. We will learn from this and work hard to improve."
This victory helps Cologne ease their relegation pressure, which has been mounting since they were relegated from the Bundesliga last season. The club now sits just two points behind Eintracht Frankfurt in the table, making them more likely to avoid a second consecutive relegation.
The win also boosts the morale of Cologne fans who have been supporting their team during a challenging season. With their confidence boosted by this result, Cologne is set to continue their push towards the top division in the coming weeks.