Justin Diehl marked his return to FC Köln's matchday squad after battling illness, only to witness his team suffer a narrow defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen.
Diehl, who had missed the previous two matchdays due to illness, was named among the substitutes for the Bundesliga clash against Werder Bremen.
As the game progressed at the RheinEnergieStadion, Diehl's presence on the bench provided a glimmer of hope for FC Köln supporters. Their optimism heightened when, in the 67th minute, Diehl was called upon by the manager, substituting Florian Kainz and stepping back onto the field after his hiatus.
However, despite Diehl's return, FC Köln couldn't find the breakthrough they desperately needed. Werder Bremen managed to maintain their lead, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory over their opponents.
The match was decided by Justin Njinmah's decisive right-footed shot from close range, orchestrated by a pinpoint cross from Mitchell Weiser.
FC Koln will play Stuttgart in their next league game on February 24th.