1. FC Köln fell to a spirited 2:0 defeat against Bayern Munich on Saturday afternoon. Raphael Guerreiro’s long-range strike gave the hosts the lead before a mistake allowed Thomas Müller kill the game in added time.
Team news
Zsolt Löw, filling in for Thomas Tuchel due to suspension, opted for seven changes in comparison to the team that began the 2:2 draw in London against Arsenal on Tuesday. Sven Ulreich, Raphael Guerreiro, Noussair Mazraoui, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Mathys Tel replaced Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Leon Goretzka, Konrad Laimer, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry.
Timo Schultz was forced into two alterations to the side that started the win against VfL Bochum last weekend. Eric Martel (suspended) and Davie Selke (injured) were replaced by Jacob Christensen and Faride Alidou.
Level at the break
FC started the game well and had two massive chances to open the scoring. In the 10th minute, Dejan Ljubicic threaded Faride Alidou through on goal, only to fire wide of the mark from a tight angle. Max Finkgräfe’s cross 10 minutes later was perfect for Sargis Adamyan, though a superb save from Sven Ulreich meant that parity was preserved.
After that, Bayern came into the game more and more. Raphael Guerreiro should have opened the scoring, only to be denied by a special save from Marvin Schwäbe. The hosts then saw Harry Kane strike the post from 12 yards before Mathys Tel cracked a curling effort against the upright just before the break.
Guerreiro and Müller make the difference
The second-half began with FC holding up well despite Bayern controlling possession. The hosts say Tel’s curler well-saved by Schwäbe before another Adamyan header was held by Ulreich. The hosts finally found the breakthrough in the 65th minute. Guerreiro was given time and space and produced an effort of real quality from 25 yards to find the top corner.
FC had an excellent chance to level late on as Dayot Upamecano’s pass across the box was intercepted by Luca Waldschmidt. The forward scuffed his shot, with Steffen Tigges’ follow-up denied by Ulreich. At the other end, a mistake on the edge of FC’s box was punished by Thomas Müller as the final whistle sounded two minutes later.
FC are next in action on Saturday, 20th April against SV Darmstadt 98 at the RheinEnergieSTADION. Kick-off is at 15:30 CEST.
Line-ups
FC Bayern München (4-2-3-1): Ulreich – Kimmich, de Ligt (Upamecano 61‘), Dier, Mazraoui (Davies 61‘) – Pavlovic (Laimer 79‘), Guerreiro (Goretzka 79‘) – Coman (Musiala 50‘), Müller, Tel – Kane.
1. FC Köln (4-4-2): Schwäbe – Thielmann (Heintz 77‘), Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe – Alidou (Downs 77‘), Ljubicic, Christensen, Kainz (Waldschmidt 54‘) – Adamyan (Tigges 67‘), Maina (Schmitz 67‘).
Goals: 1:0, Guerreiro 65‘. 2:0, Müller 90+3‘.
Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück).
Booked: Christensen (5’), Maina (30’), Adamyan (36’).
Attendance: 75,000 (sold-out).
