Dallinga's late double sinks Hoffenheim as Cologne stage stunning comeback
Quick summary
Cologne came from behind to beat Hoffenheim on Bundesliga Matchday 1, with Dallinga scoring twice late to complete a stunning comeback.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceCologne 3-2 Hoffenheim Goals: 0-1 Daghim 27’ (assist: Conté), 1-1 El Mala 51’, 1-2 Kabak 67’ (assist: Coufal), 2-2 Dallinga 72’ (assist: Maina), 3-2 Dallinga 82’
Three Bundesliga debutants started for Cologne – Luka Lochoshvili, Gideon Mensah and Paul Okon-Engstler – while Bambasé Conté made his first-ever top-flight start for Hoffenheim , who also welcomed back Oliver Baumann , Bernardo and Adam Daghim to the side that had beaten Aue in the DFB Cup. Adam Hložek made his first Bundesliga start since May 2025.
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What happened
Cologne produced a dramatic comeback win against Hoffenheim on the opening matchday of the Bundesliga season. After trailing earlier in the match, Cologne were rescued by a late brace from Dallinga, whose two goals flipped the result and handed his side all three points. The defeat leaves Hoffenheim empty-handed from their opening fixture and highlights early defensive concerns for the visitors.
Chance analysis
Opening-day results rarely define a season, but a comeback win of this kind can shape early momentum in powerful ways. Dallinga's late double gives Cologne a dramatic platform to build on and signals that the new arrival can be a reliable match-winner when it matters most. For Hoffenheim, conceding late goals against a side that finished below them in the standings is a familiar warning sign — the kind of fragility that travel well across a long Bundesliga campaign if not addressed quickly.
Cologne gain an early-season confidence boost with a comeback win, while Hoffenheim's late defensive collapse raises concerns about their resilience.