Fortuna Cologne had no trouble with Wuppertaler SV, while Borussia Mönchengladbach II won at Fortuna Düsseldorf II. Fortuna Cologne kicked off the 18th matchday of the Regionalliga West with a comfortable 3-0 home win against Wuppertaler SV, taking them to the top of the table going into 2026.

In an uneventful first half, it was Kevin Brechmann who put the home side on the road to victory with a long-range shot shortly before the break. 18-year-old Fotios Adamidis, who surprisingly replaced Michael Luyambula between the posts, was powerless to prevent the goal.

Cologne continued to dominate after the break, but mostly failed to create any real chances. Their crosses were too often inaccurate. It was only in the final quarter of an hour that the league leaders pulled away: Enzo Wirtz scored his 11th goal of the season from just under 16 meters to make it 2-0, and David Haider finally sealed the 3-0 victory after a cross from substitute Jonas Michelbrink. Fortuna Cologne now sits in first place with 37 points, while Schalke II (33 points), Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (33), and FC Gütersloh (32), who face each other on Saturday, have played one game less. Fortuna Cologne: Winkler – Afamefuna (84. Derbali), Fünger, Haider, Garcia, Geerkens, Strauch, Thier (77. Michelbrink), Garcia (77. Stanilewicz), Bornemann (62. Al Ghaddioui), Brechmann (84. Statovci), Wirtz

Wuppertaler SV: Adamidis – Nishimura, Hartmann, Bielitza, Miyamoto – Rebronja, Müller (69. Arabaci), Aydogan, Bouzraa, Oostwoud (59. Wagemann), Kamo (59. Kleiner)

Goals: 1-0 Brechmann (43.), 2:0 Wirtz (76.), 3:0 Haider (80.)

Fortuna Düsseldorf II – Borussia Mönchengladbach II 1:3 (1:3)

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s second team won 3:1 (3:1) at Fortuna Düsseldorf II thanks to a lightning start.

Lion Schweers (1st) from a corner, Fritz Fleck (7th) after a mistake by Düsseldorf and Kilian Sauck (11th) with a curling shot ensured that the young Foals were already leading 3:0 after just under a quarter of an hour.

Hamza Anhari scored an early goal (27th minute), but it had no immediate effect. Fortuna worked hard for a second goal in the second half, but without enough conviction. After almost an hour, Deniz Bindermann had the best chance when he took a penalty kick, but the strong Maximilian Neutgens saved it.

The score remained 1-3, leaving Düsseldorf stuck at the bottom of the table. Gladbach, on the other hand, remains in touch with the leaders.

Fortuna Düsseldorf II: Czako – Vu (86. Zentler), Brodersen, Egouli, Mirgartz (86. Tönnies), Latza, Savic (34. Nikolaou), Affo, Bindemann (71. Garlipp), Anhari, Quiala Tito

Borussia Mönchengladbach II: Neutgens – Dasbach, Schweers (J.K. Uwakhonye), J. L. Uwakhonye, Cirpan, Fleck, Sauck (70. Berko), Stange, Vidic, Adozi, Michaelis

The other matches on matchday 18 of the Regionalliga West

FC Gütersloh – Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (Saturday, 2 p.m.)

FC Schalke 04 II – SC Wiedenbrück

SV Rödinghausen – Sportfreunde Siegen

1 FC Köln II – 1. FC Bocholt

Borussia Dortmund II – SC Paderborn II (4 p.m.)

Bonner SC – VfL Bochum II (Sunday, 2 p.m.)