Following a 4-1 loss to Heidenheim in the Bundesliga, Cologne's relegation to Germany's second division for the upcoming season was confirmed. Going into match, Cologne was three points behind the relegation play-off berth and five points from absolute safety. A victory over Heidenheim was necessary to have any hope of making it through. But a 4-1 defeat puts them six points behind 16th in the season's standings.

The Billy Goats had been struggling all season, as head coach Steffen Baumgart lost his job as a result of 10 losses in the first 16 games of the league. Timo Schultz entered the game but it was not enough to lift Cologne from the relegation fight, he helped the team win 17 points from his first 19 games. This is the team’s sixth demotion but they had stayed consistent for the past five years in Bundesliga. The team now joins Darmstadt which was demoted two weeks ago.