Bayern Munich disposed the defensive record of one promoted team at midweek, and now they look to do the same against another.
FC Köln vs. Bayern Munich: Time, TV schedule and game preview
Bayern travel to Köln to renew one of their longest standing rivalries
Adam Pretty
The Rekordmeister travel to Köln on the heels of a 4-0 home victory against SC Paderborn. They will face one of their arch nemeses in 1. FC Köln, who they are playing fir the 87th time in their history. Second year manager Peter Stöger has extrapolated Köln’s defensive success in the second tier to the first five matches of the Bundesliga; Joselu’s goal for Hannover 96 on Wednesday was the first goal Köln have given up in all competition.
Bayern has not faced Köln in two-and-a-half years, Köln spending the last two seasons in the 2. Bundesliga. Believe it or not, Köln have are the club Bayern have the worst win-percentage against, and will likely be a thorn in Bayern’s side this weekend as Stöger puts everyone behind the ball.
The flow of the match will solely depend on who plays. Pep Guardiola is gearing up his team for a Champions League match at midweek, so he is just as likely to rest his top players as he is to ruin Köln’s stellar goal record.
Key Player: Arjen Robben
Bayern dominated Paderborn at midweek, and it is more than a coincidence that Robben was in the starting XI. The Dutchman returned from a nagging knee injury and once again lit up the pitch with darting runs and precise service. He has a goal and two assists in just two starts this season, and Bayern’s offense has lacked punch without him. Köln will pack the penalty area, so Robben’s ability to dribble through nooks and crannies will prove very valuable for Bayern.
Key Matchup: Yuya Osako and Anthony Ujah vs. Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm
Depending on the team that Guardiola fields, either Alonso or Lahm will be required to shield the back line from midfield. Both have guarded the center of defense to the tune of just two goals allowed in five matches. Osako and Ujah have scored the only two goals for Köln this season, perhaps showing that they are not ready for the Bundesliga. Köln’s defense will keep them in the match, but eventually Osako and Ujah will have to find their way around Alonso and Lahm to keep pace with Bayern.
Köln Injuries and Suspensions
Out: Patrick Bröker (back), Patrick Helmes (cartilage tear), Kazuki Nagasawa (knee), Dusan Švento (foot)
Bayern Injuries and Suspensions
Out: Thiago Alcântara (knee), Holger Badstuber (thigh), Javi Martínez (knee), Franck Ribéry (knee), Bastian Schweinsteiger (knee) In Doubt: Jérôme Boateng (rest), Mehdi Benatia (fitness)
Patrick Helmes, Köln’s top scorer in 2013/14, is still rehabbing his injury, but Osako has produced what he probably would have in the same spot. The other absences are negligible depth pieces, and Stöger has been able to consistently rely on the same squad thus far.
With the match at midweek for the third week in a row, some of the Bayern players have experienced some fatigue. Boateng is questionable for that reason, Bayern considering resting him for their midweek Champions League clash. Benatia’s lack of minutes has been an enigma, the Moroccan playing just once in a Bayern uniform, He could be struggling with fitness issues himself.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. local, 9:30 a.m. ET
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion, Köln, Germany
TV: GolTV (USA & Canada), MyGermanTV+ (USA), Sky Bundesliga 3 | HD (Germany)
Online: Sky Go (Germany)
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