Mainz: Hapless Cologne, missing Polish forward Slawomir Peszko after a row with a taxi driver, sank deeper into relegation trouble when they were thrashed 4-0 by Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Tuesday.
The contest was over before half-time as Eugen Polanski, Mohammad Zidan and Nicolai Mueller scored in an 18-minute spell in the first half, condemning Cologne to their fourth defeat in five games, during which they have conceded 17 goals.
Adam Szalai added the fourth while Cologne forward Lukas Podolski was hit in the face by a small object thrown from the crowd in the first half. He was not hurt and continued playing.
Hertha Berlin also took a step closer to the second division as they lost 2-1 at home to Freiburg, with Roman Hubnik scoring at both ends, while Augsburg were beaten 3-1 at home by VfB Stuttgart.
Own goal
Hertha defender Hubnik turned Garra Dembele's shot into his own net after seven minutes and the Malian also set up Freiburg's second for Sebastian Freis on the hour.
Hubnik then headed one back for Hertha, who lost for the fifth time in eight outings since 73-year-old Otto Rehhagel took over as coach.
Angola striker Nando Rafael gave Augsburg an early lead from a penalty but it was all downhill from there for the promoted side as Serdar Tasci, Martin Harnik and Vedad Ibisevic replied for fifth-placed Stuttgart.
Borussia Moenchengladbach, who are fourth, which would earn them a place in the Champions League qualifying round next season, had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen despite playing with a man extra for over an hour.
Markus Rosenberg gave Bremen an 18th minute lead, but they had Sebastian Boenisch sent off for a professional foul nine minutes later.
Mike Hanke scored twice after the break to put Gladbach ahead, but Brazilian defender Naldo headed Bremen's equaliser in the 74th minute.
