Koln 4 - 1 Darmstadt: Anthony Modeste and Marcel Risse inspire Cologne victory over Darmstadt

Cologne all but mathematically wrapped up their place in the Bundesliga next season with a 4-1 win over Darmstadt, who still have some work to do to be safe themselves.

Anthony Modeste gave Cologne the lead in the fourth minute with his 13th goal of the season, placed into the left-hand corner of the goal.

Jerome Gondorf ended Cologne's celebrations in the 12th minute as he punished some dallying in the home defence to poke the ball into the far corner.

Modeste put Cologne in front again 10 minutes before half-time, beating the offside flag and taking the ball down with an excellent first touch before finding the bottom corner with his second.

Modeste missed a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick before Marcel Risse curled in a cross with the outside of his right boot which flew past everybody and nestled in the top corner of Christian Mathenia's goal.

Risse added a fourth with a diagonal shot from just inside the penalty area for a win which means Cologne are nine points clear of the relegation zone with three games to go and their superior goal difference of 15 means they can start planning for next season in the German top flight.