1. FC Köln vs Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund ground out a 2-1 win at FC Köln on Matchday 25, with Maximilian Beier delivering a standout display at the RheinEnergieStadion. Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring in the 16th minute, latching onto a clever ball from Beier and poking past goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe. Things went from bad to worse for the hosts just before half-time when Jahmai Simpson-Pusey saw his yellow card upgraded to a straight red via VAR for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Beier. Down to ten men, Köln had no answer when Beier doubled the lead on the hour mark, exchanging a slick one-two with Julian Brandt before slotting home. Jakub Kamiński pulled one back with a deflected strike in the 88th minute, but it proved mere consolation. The win keeps Dortmund second, eleven points behind Bayern Munich and six clear of Hoffenheim in third. For Köln, a fourth defeat in five leaves them just two points above the relegation play-off spot.