Köln took a narrow victory at Merano in the Serie A, winning 28 to 26 on Saturday evening. The result keeps both sides unbeaten through six games, though the visitors move closer to the top while the hosts remain in eighth. By then the match had already settled into something neither side expected.
We'd backed Merano at 57 per cent confidence, but Köln worked a short corner when it mattered. The hosts had been steady through their draw-heavy run — three wins and three draws — yet something shifted in the final moments. And here's the thing: matches like this rarely turn on the opening exchanges.
Köln came in fourth on eight points, one more than Merano's total, and that edge showed up late. Their recent form had been mixed — losses to Conversano and Pressano — but they'd bounced back against Molteno on the 3rd. To be fair, the away side didn't dominate possession or create more chances; they simply finished better.
Merano's record of 26 goals conceded against 28 scored tells you everything without needing xG. The hosts pinned their opponents back for long spells, but the old head in the Köln ranks settled them down when pressure mounted. Three or four moments decided this, not the ninety minutes of running.
The gap between them shrinks to two points now, and Köln sit on top of the unbeaten list alongside their opponents. Merano will make life awkward going forward — they don't lose, but they haven't won enough to climb. The tie remains open.
