German Bundesliga: Schalke beaten at home

Schalke suffered their first home defeat under Roberto Di Matteo as Cologne delivered a tactical masterclass to come away with a precious 2-1 win.

After frustrating their hosts in the first half, Cologne showed more adventure to snatch the points in the second, with Anthony Ujah giving them the lead and Matthias Lehmann scoring their second from the penalty spot.

Schalke, tired after a draining Champions League clash with Maribor in midweek, pulled a goal back through Leroy Sane's first Bundesliga strike five minutes from time, but they could not find an equaliser.

Cologne coach Peter Stoger was criticised by his Bayer Leverkusen counterpart Roger Schmidt from playing a destructive style of football in their recent meeting, which Leverkusen won.

Schmidt said he would not be a coach if that was the way his team played, but Stoger appears happy enough for his team to continue to play in such a manner, especially if they keep getting results like they did at the Arena AufSchalke.

Schalke were invited to attack, which they did willingly, only to find the packed ranks of Cologne defenders nigh on impossible to break down.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar were not given any time or space and Cologne's tactics were working perfectly as they frustrated the Royal Blues up to the interval.

Then, early in the second half, Stoger's men struck.

With their first shot of the game, Cologne grabbed the lead, with Ujah meeting Yannick Gerhardt's cross to score inside the near post.

Dusan Svento was denied by Ralf Fahrmann as Cologne nearly added a second straight after.

Benedikt Howedes then gave Cologne the opportunity to double their lead in the 67th minute when he fouled Pavel Olkowski inside the area and Lehmann stepped up to drill his spot-kick into the roof of the net.

Schalke started to look tired and Di Matteo sent Sane on for his fourth substitute appearance of the season. It was an inspired change.

He leapt to meet Atsuto Uchida's cross to head in from close range, but it was nothing more than a consolation as the hosts slumped to defeat.