Bayern Munich come from behind to beat Köln 3-1 away, extending their unbeaten Bundesliga run and maintaining an 11-point lead at the top.
Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Köln 3-1 at the RheinEnergieSTADION, maintaining their commanding position at the top of the Bundesliga. Vincent Kompany’s side recovered from a first-half scare to claim another composed away win. The result preserves Bayern’s 11-point lead after 17 matches. It also extends their unbeaten league run this season.
Köln started with intensity and tested Bayern early. Saïd El Mala forced Manuel Neuer into a sharp save inside two minutes. Play was briefly halted soon after as smoke from flares drifted across the pitch. Once play resumed, Bayern began to assert control through possession and territory.
Bayern created chances but struggled for rhythm before the break. Hiroki Ito was denied by Marvin Schwäbe, who also saved well from Michael Olise. Köln remained dangerous on the counter and were rewarded in the 41st minute. Linton Maina dispossessed Serge Gnabry deep inside his own half and surged forward to score a superb solo goal.
The lead was short-lived as Bayern responded immediately. In first-half stoppage time, Gnabry produced a moment of brilliance from a tight angle. His clever strike bounced over Schwäbe and into the net. The equaliser shifted momentum firmly back towards the visitors.
Bayern dominated possession after the interval but still faced resistance. Jakub Kaminski tested Neuer again just before the hour with a powerful effort. Köln continued to threaten sporadically, keeping the contest competitive. Bayern’s patience eventually paid off in the 71st minute.
From a short corner routine, Ito kept the ball alive at the far post. Min-Jae Kim nodded home from close range to put Bayern ahead. It was the defender’s first league goal of the season and a decisive one. Bayern looked more settled from that moment on.
The game was sealed six minutes from time. Luis Díaz drove into the box and squared for substitute Lennart Karl. The 17-year-old showed composure to guide the ball into the bottom-left corner. It was Karl’s fourth Bundesliga goal of a breakout campaign.
Kim stood out at both ends of the pitch. He made a crucial recovery run to deny Kaminski earlier, then scored the go-ahead goal. Díaz was influential without scoring, finishing with an assist and several dangerous dribbles. Olise also impressed with his passing into the final third.
Bayern finished with 19 shots to Köln’s eight. Their expected goals total was 1.50 compared to the hosts’ 0.72. The league leaders have now scored 66 goals this season. That is a Bundesliga record at the halfway stage.
With 15 wins and two draws, Bayern are level on 47 points with Pep Guardiola’s 2013-14 side. Their goal difference of +53 is significantly higher, making it the outright best start to a season. Vincent Kompany’s side have scored 66 goals this term, 10 more than the previous record from 2021/22 which stood at 56. They have also avoided defeat in 22 straight competitive meetings with Köln.
Bayern travel to face third-place RB Leipzig this weekend in the Bundesliga. Attention will then turn to European action when they host Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday, 21st January. Köln, still struggling for form, will host Mainz 05 as they look to climb away from the lower half of the table.
