FC Koln kept Marco Reus quiet to frustrate Borussia Dortmund in a goalless first half of their Bundesliga clash at Westfalenstadion this evening.
The in-demand German playmaker has scored four goals in Dortmund's last five games to inspire their climb from relegation trouble to mid-table security.
However, Koln, who are one point and two positions below their ninth-placed opponents, starved him of service and shackled Jurgen Klopp's side in the opening 45 minutes.
Dortmund's only clear chance came within four minutes of the first whistle as Neven Subotic headed over from a set piece, but they otherwise failed to make the most of their 63% possession as Timo Horn went largely untroubled in the Koln goal.
The hosts have Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos to turn to off the bench and one of them may get the nod after Henrikh Mkhitaryan suffered an injury which he was trying to run off as the half came to a close.