FC Bayern recorded a 3-1 win at 1. FC Köln on matchday 17 in the Bundesliga, giving the German record champions the best first half of the season in Bundesliga history
After the furious 8-1 win against VfL Wolfsburg, FC Bayern put in another strong performance in the Bundesliga. Vincent Kompany’s team celebrated a 3-1 away win at 1. FC Köln on Wednesday evening. Despite trailing 1-0 at one stage, the Munich side hit back with goals from Gnabry (45.+5), Minjae Kim (71) and Lennart Karl (84)
With this success, Bayern have completed the best first half of the season in Bundesliga history. In the 2013/14 season, FCB scored 47 points and 33 goals in the first half of the season under Pep Guardiola. Kompany’s Bayern also have 44 points and have topped the old record with a goal difference of +53
Kompany rotates properly
Vincent Kompany made four changes to his starting eleven compared to the home win against VfL Wolfsburg: Minjae Kim, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka and Hiroki Ito came into the first eleven for Dayot Upamecano, Tom Bischof, Lennart Karl and Josip Stanisic
The Munich side were without Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala (both in recovery training), Alphonso Davies and Sacha Boey (illness) and Stanisic (ankle injury)
Maina shocks Bayern – Gnabry equalizes!
FC Köln were very attack-minded in the opening minutes despite their 5-man backline. FC youngster Said El Mala found himself in front of Manuel Neuer in the second minute, but the Bayern keeper made a strong save to keep out the shot from an acute angle
Immediately after this huge chance, the match had to be interrupted for almost ten minutes due to pyrotechnics being set off and the resulting smoke
Bayern stepped up the pressure after the break. In the 21st minute, Ito popped up in front of Schwäbe, but he remained the winner in a one-on-one. In the 24th minute, the FC keeper was once again the center of attention, this time saving a low shot from Michael Olise. Ten minutes later, Schwäbe defused a powerful long-range shot from Gnabry
Cologne then turned the game on its head in the 41st minute: After Gnabry lost possession, Linton Maina grabbed the ball and drove it into the Munich penalty area, hitting a powerful shot from just under 16 meters to make it 1-0 for FC. Neuer did not look good in the defensive action
FCB were only briefly shocked, however, and Gnabry equalized in XXL stoppage time (45.+5) with a remarkable solo run in the FC penalty area. The Bayern attacker was pushed away to the right, but was not deterred by this and tricked Schwäbe with a deft touch from an acute angle
That was the score going into the half-time break
Kim turns the game around with a header
After the restart, Bayern pressed for the lead, but struggled against Cologne’s well-organized defence. Scoring chances remained scarce – on both sides
In the 56th minute, Kaminski was through on goal, but Minjae Kim ran clear of the Cologne player and prevented a great scoring chance for Cologne. Two minutes later, Kaminski got his shot away, but Neuer defused the volley from just under 16 meters
Midway through the second half (67′), Kompany brought on Lennart Karl (for Gnabry) and Dayot Upamecano (for Tah), with the 17-year-old youngster in particular bringing a breath of fresh air to Bayern’s play
In the 71st minute, the time had come: After a rehearsed corner-kick variation, Ito fed the free-standing Kim at the far post, who nodded in from close range to make it 2:1 for the record champions
An open exchange of blows developed in the final phase of the match, with Cologne playing much more offensively, while Bayern repeatedly counter-attacked. Joker Karl made it 3:1 in the 84th minute, coolly slotting the ball past Schwäbe after a fine assist from Diaz
In the end, it was a deserved 3:1 win for Vincent Kompany’s team
Bayern don’t have much time to celebrate, however, as they face a tough Bundesliga away game at RB Leipzig next Saturday (18:30).