Bundesliga match report: Borussia Dortmund v Cologne

Borussia Dortmund were held to a second successive goalless draw to see their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season reduce against Cologne.

Dortmund did have the ball in the back of the net once, but that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang effort was rightly ruled out for handball.

Cologne defended resolutely, giving Dortmund a taste of what they could expect from Juventus when the Serie A leaders visit the Westfalenstadion on Wednesday, defending a 2-1 lead from the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.

On Saturday's evidence, Juve will be confident of ending Dortmund's presence in Europe for possibly the next 18 months with Jurgen Klopp's men looking increasingly unlikely to make it next season via their league position.

Having been frustrated in Hamburg a week ago - a result which followed four successive wins - Dortmund might have expected similar treatment from the Goats.

They would have been surprised, though, as Cologne had two big chances to take an early lead.

Deyverson had only Roman Weidenfeller to beat in the second minute, but his attempted lob missed the target.

Minutes later, Anthony Ujah was next to be faced with just the Dortmund custodian to beat, but he was marshalled way from the goal and the chance went begging.

Having come out of the blocks quickly, Cologne then retreated and began playing like many had expected them to beforehand.

It was therefore up to Dortmund to break them down and make their possession count, only they could not manage it.

Aubameyang did turn the ball into the back of the net from Kevin Kampl's cross, but he did not celebrate since he knew he had used his hand, and he accepted his yellow card too.

Marco Reus' late free-kick needed more than just Mats Hummels' hair ends to reach the ball to cause Timo Horn any problems, but that is all he got to it.

It was too little to break the deadlock as Dortmund had to settle for only a point for the second week running.