Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will play FC Köln this Saturday in their first away outing of 2022.
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion (Cologne)
Key Statistics
FC Köln have suffered just one league loss at the RheinEnergieStadion this season (W5, D3).
They have failed to score only once in their last nine games.
The hosts have kept just one league clean sheet all season.
Bayern Munich have the best away record in the league this season (W6, D1, L1).
The Bavarians have won all of their last eight Bundesliga games against Köln and are unbeaten in 15 league meetings with the ‘Billy Goats’ (W14 D1).
FCB have found the net in each of their last 42 Bundesliga away matches – a running Bundesliga record.
The visitors have scored 57 league goals this season, four more than any team have ever scored after the first 18 matchdays.
Serge Gnabry scored a brace in each of the last two matches against Köln. Overall, the Bayern winger has netted 11 times in eight Bundesliga meetings with the ‘Billy Goats’ – more than he has against any other team.
Head to head
Bayern Munich are dominant in this fixture, winning 14 of the last 15 meetings against FC Koln (D1).
Latest Performances in all competitions
FC Köln: W-W-W-L-D
Bayern: L-W-W-W-W
FC Köln
After beginning the year with a stunning 3-1 victory over Hertha Berlin last time, FC Köln will look to pick up another three points when they welcome Covid-hit Bayern Munich to the RheinEnergieStadion.
The ‘Billy Goats’ are one of the surprise teams of the season so far and are coming into this game sitting in sixth place, just two points off the Champions League places.
With 28 points to their name ahead of this matchday, Cologne have collected more points at this stage of a top-flight season than any other season since the turn of the century – barring 2016/17.
Just last season, they were in a relegation fight and needed victory in the relegation playoff to qualify for the Bundesliga this season. They have won seven of their opening 18 league games this season (D7, L4), and are currently the side with the second-best home record after suffering just one league loss at the RheinEnergieStadion this season (W5, D3).
Steffen Baumgart’s side are currently on a three-match winning run in the league. They will look to make it four straight wins by beating the Bavarian giants Bayern Munich on this occasion.
If they can take all three points here, it would make it four straight Bundesliga wins for the first time since January 2020 for Cologne.
Possible FC Köln starting line-ups
Marvin Schwabe (GK); Jonas Hector, Luca Kilian, Timo Hubers, Benno Schmitz; Salih Ozcan, Dejan Ljubicic; Ondrej Duda, Florian Kainz, Mark Uth; Anthony Modeste.
Injured: Sebastian Andersson, Jorge Mere, Marvin Obuz, Timo Horn
Unavailable (AFCON): Ellyes Skhiri
Suspended: None
Bayern Munich
Bundesliga defending champions began their year on a sore note as they were beaten 1-2 at home by Borussia Monchengladbach.
The win ended a seven-game-winning run for the Bavarian giants and cut their lead at the top to six points following Borussia Dortmund‘s win over Eintracht Frankfurt in that round of games.
Despite that loss, Bayern equalled a league record, scoring at least one goal for the 65th consecutive Bundesliga fixture. Only the Bavarians themselves have managed that before, between 2012 and 2014, and now they can set a new record with a goal against Köln.
But Julian Nagelsmann’s side will look to not just score a goal but to take home all three points from this tie. They will be confident of winning this game as FC Köln are their favourite opponents in the league. The visitors have won 14 of their last 15 meetings (D1) with the hosts. They do not have a longer winning streak or unbeaten run against any other current Bundesliga side.
Possible Bayern Munich starting line-ups
Sven Ulreich (GK); Marcel Sabitzer, Niklas Sule, Benjamin Pavard, Joshua Kimmich; Jamal Musiala, Marc Roca; Malik Tillman, Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry; Robert Lewandowski.
Injured: Leon Goretzka, Josip Stanisic
COVID-19: Kingsley Coman, Dayot Upamecano, Christopher Scott, Leroy Sane, Alphonso Davies, Lucas Hernandez, Manuel Neuer
Unavailable (AFCON): Bouna Sarr, Eric Choupo-Moting
Suspended: None
Prediction
FC Köln 1-3 Bayern Munich
