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Bayern Munich get back to winning ways against Cologne

By Kiran Thakare

Bayern Munich's players celebrate the 0-3 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1 FC Cologne v FC Bayern Munich in Cologne, western Germany on February 16, 2020. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / RESTRICTIONS: DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's players celebrate the 0-3 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1 FC Cologne v FC Bayern Munich in Cologne, western Germany on February 16, 2020. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / RESTRICTIONS: DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Bayern Munich delivered another emphatic performance in the Bundesliga as they cruise past FC Cologne.

After a minor jolt against RB Leipzig last weekend, Bayern Munich got back to winning ways against FC Cologne. The Bavarians failed to keep a clean sheet as they conceded a consolation goal, but scored four past Timo Horn. A brace from Serge Gnabry and goals from Robert Lewandowski and Kingsley Coman powered Die Roten to their fourth league win of the Ruckrunde.

Hansi Flick made one change to the starting lineup as Kingsley Coman started his first game since the start of December. Leon Goretzka made way for the French winger in the starting XI. Markus Gisdol stuck with the same team that clinched a 4-0 victory against Freiburg a fortnight ago.

Bayern have been starting games brilliantly in Ruckrunde, and that trend continued against Cologne. The defending champions opened the scoring in the third minute. After getting the better of Bornauw, Lewandowski scored from a tight angle. It was the best possible start for Rekordmeister, after enduring a goalless draw against Leipzig last weekend.

The visitors were in a mood to wrap up the game quickly as the second goal came two minutes after the first one. Thomas Muller was once again the chief architect of the goal as he squares the ball to Coman in the box. Die Roten were up and running as Cologne were shell shocked and cramped in their half.

Bayern didn’t drop the intensity after getting a two-goal cushion. They eventually got the reward for persistence as Serge Gnabry scored the third goal. After a pinpoint delivery from a corner by Joshua Kimmich, Gnabry took his time to blast his shot past Horn.

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Cologne were struggling to win the ball, and whenever they did have possession Bayern closed them down well. Things went from bad to worse for the home side, as Katterbach was substituted at half an hour mark due to injury. The Bavarians continued to pepper Horn’s goal with shots and should have scored at least two more before the half-time.

Gisdol’s men did respond well after the first half mauling, and they almost scored immediately in the second half. However, Jhon Cordoba‘s goal was chalked off as Ellyes Skhiri was in an offside position during the buildup of the goal. The hosts continued to put pressure on Die Roten by creating good chances, but couldn’t finish those moves.

Poor finishing came back to bite them as Gnabry got his second goal of the day just past the hour mark. Alphonso Davies did some tidy work on the left flank and squared the ball to Gnabry in the box. The German did the rest with a sweet finish past Horn.

Die Roten pushed for more goals, but it was Cologne who got the next goal at the 70th-minute mark. Florian Kainz feeds the ball to Mark Uth in the box who does well to get the ball past Manuel Neuer. Rekordmeister responded well to this small setback as Lewandowski almost got the fifth goal after some neat linkup play with Muller.

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The last ten minutes got the best out of both goalkeepers. Neuer and Horn pulled off some great saves to keep this scoreline intact. After this win, Bayern went back to the top of the table, leading RB Leipzig by one point. The defending champions will be hosting Paderborn next Saturday before heading to London for Champions League clash against Chelsea.

"FC Cologne ( 4-2-3-1)HornEhizibue-Czichos-Bornauw-KatterbachDrexler- Hector- Skhiri- JakobsUth- Cordoba. Substitutes- Krahl, Schmitz (↑Jakobs (72′)), Leistner, Rexhbecaj, Kainz (↑Katterbach (28′)),Hoger, Modeste (↑Cordoba (81′)), Thielmann, TeroddeBayern Munich (4-2-3-1)NeuerPavard-Boateng-Alaba-DaviesThiago-KimmichGnabry-Muller-ComanLewandowskiSubstitutes- Ulreich, Odriozola, Coutinho, Cuisance, Goretzka (↑Coman (79′)), Hernández (↑Boateng (46′)), Tolisso (↑Kimmich (59′)), Zirkzee."