FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Next to face the league leading Bayern Munich juggernaut is FC Cologne, who are winless in their last seven Bundesliga games.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
FC Cologne preview: Double response
FC Cologne twice fell behind away to Heidenheim last time out and twice responded with equalisers to come away with a point. However, it’s now seven Bundesliga matches without a win for Lukas Kwasniok’s men and the likelihood that this will change here is extremely slim when taking into account their opponents.
The defence of FC Cologne will have to be at their very best to have any chance of getting something from this formidable Bayern squad. Particularly when taking into account that Kwasniok’s side have not kept a clean sheet since early October.
Bayern Munich preview: You’d eight to face them
Anyone thinking that Bayern Munich would start slowly come the resumption of the Bundesliga season were sadly mistaken when considering how they utterly dismantled Wolfsburg. Vincent Kompany’s side were all class as they took apart their opponents, winning 8-1 and capitalising on Borussia Dortmund dropping points earlier in the weekend.
Dortmund’s 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday night means the gap currently between them and table toppers Bayern stands at eight points with the Rekordmeister able to extend that to 11 with a 15th league win of the season here.
FC Cologne team news: Double suspension
FC Cologne are without two players through suspension, those being midfielder Eric Martel and defender Sepp Van den Berg. Heintz, Hubers, Kilian and Schmied are all injured.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Schwabe; Sebulonsen, Krauss, Ozkacar; Thielmann, Huseinbasic, Johannesson, Castro-Montes; Schenten, Ache, Kaminski
Unavailable: Heintz (Injured), Hubers (Injured), Kilian (Injured), Martel (Suspended), Schmied (Injured), Van den Berg (Suspended)
Questionable:
Bayern Munich team news: Rotation expected
Whilst the key stars should feature again, it would be no surprise to see Kompany opt to rotate his starting line-up with the likes of Leon Goretzka, Hiroki Ito and Raphael Guerreiro all candidates to come into this side.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Ito; Pavlovic, Goretzka; Olise, Guerreiro, Diaz; Kane
Unavailable: Boey (Illness), Jackson (International duty), Kimmich (Injured), Musiala (Fitness), Stanisic (Injured)
Questionable: Davies (Illness), Kim (Injured)
FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich prediction
Whilst away from home, Bayern Munich are still expected to totally command this game, overwhelm this FC Cologne backline and find the net multiple times. FC Cologne have nothing to lose and need to treat this encounter in that matter. But Bayern just boast some many brilliant players, especially from an attacking standout and will surely dominate proceedings.
If Bayern are as ruthless in front of goal as we saw from them at the weekend, FC Cologne are in for a nightmare evening. The likelihood is that this result won’t be as emphatic. However, it’s still well worth backing the league leaders to triumph by at least three clear goals.
FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich tip: Bayern Munich to win with -2 handicap
