Bundesliga 2022-23: FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Bayern travel to Koln with the title showdown going to the final match week in Germany, A must-win match for the defending Champions!!

Be careful what you wish for because that is the case for Bayern with the sacking of Nagelsmann. With 68 points from 33 games, this is FC Bayern’s worst Bundesliga campaign in 12 years with 62 points at this stage in 2010/11 and only finished third. FC Bayern have won just five of a total of 11 competitive games under Thomas Tuchel (D2, L4), suffering more defeats in this period (4) than in their other 37 competitive games this season under Julian Nagelsmann (3).

This is the first time since 2011-12 that FC Bayern are going into the final matchday with not top of the table (also Dortmund back then). No side that wasn’t top going into the final day has won the title over the last 22 seasons. The last team to do so were Bayern themselves in 1999/2000 (overtook Leverkusen). No team has dropped more points from winning positions than FC Bayern in the second half of the season (13). Overall, FCB have dropped the third-most points from winning positions this season – only FC Augsburg (23) and Werder Bremen (22) have squandered more.

The hosts 1. FC Köln have picked up the most points from losing positions (16). 1. They have only lost one of their last eight Bundesliga games (W4, D3): 1-0 at home to SC Freiburg on matchday 30. Effzeh have picked up 15 points during this run – only the top three in the table have been better (RB Leipzig 18, Dortmund 17, FC Bayern 16). 1. FC Köln have been ahead for just 327 minutes at home this season – only VfB Stuttgart have had the lead for less time (269 minutes) putting that into perspective against FC Bayern, they have been ahead for 714 minutes on their travels and 1,618 minutes overall – both are league highs.

Kick-off:

Saturday, 20th May 2023, 04:30 pm (GMT)

Saturday, 20th May 2023, 10:00 pm (IST)

Stadium: Rheinenergie Stadion

FC Cologne form (all competitions): D- W- W- L- W

Bayern Munich form (all competitions): L- W- W- W- L

Players to watch out

Bayern Munich: Serge Gnabry

The German has scored in four consecutive Bundesliga games, something he only previously managed in March/April 2018 for TSG Hoffenheim. His tally of 14 goals this season has equaled his personal best from 2021-22.

Gnabry has scored more Bundesliga goals against Köln than versus any other side (11). He’s been given a free role from his previous defensive midfield role, as Thomas Tuchel wants him as the team’s chief creator moving forward. Overall, Serge Gnabry's. Moreover, Serge Gnabry's total G/A (goals + assists) is 18 for this season. He’ll have to be at his influential best yet again against Leipzig again to give his side an edge this weekend.

FC Cologne: Florian Kainz

It is the first Köln player since detailed data collection began in 2004/05 to record 10 assists in a Bundesliga season. He has therefore set up as many goals in 31 games this term as he did in his previous 68 Bundesliga games for Köln combined. Kainz passes the ball roughly 34.55 times during a game with a pass completion rate of 73.02%. Florian Kainz's total G/A (goals + assists) is 16 for this season and of these, Kainz scored 4 pens while missing 0

Match Facts for FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich

• FC Köln have lost each of their last eight Bundesliga home games against FC Bayern, their longest ever losing streak at home to one side in the top-flight. No team has beaten them more often at their home ground in the competition's history. (Bayern 25 times, same as Gladbach).
• Jonas Hector is set to play his 228th and final Bundesliga game for Köln, more than any other player since 2000. He is still winless in 11 Bundesliga games against FC Bayern (D2, L9).
• Koln is Tuchel’s Kryptonite as Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel has only won one of his last eight competitive games against 1. FC Köln (D4, L3): 4-0 at home with Mainz in April 2012. The only side he failed to ever beat in the league while in charge of Borussia Dortmund was 1. FC Köln (D3, L1).

Head-to-Head

Matches: 20

Bayern Munich wins: 15

FC Cologne wins: 02

Draws: 03

Team & Injury News for FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich

FC Cologne: Injury – F. Dietz (LCL Knee Ligament) and M. Uth (Groin Strain)

Bayern Munich: Injury – A. Davies (Hamstring), E. Chupo-Moting (Knee Injury), L. Hernandez (ACL Knee Ligament), M. Neuer (Broken Leg), and P. Wanner (Knock)

Predicted Lineups

Bayern Munich predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)

Y. Sommer, N. Mazraoui, B. Pavard, M. de Ligt, J. Cancelo, L. Goretzka, J. Kimmich, K. Coman, T. Müller, J. Musiala, S. Gnabry

FC Cologne predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

M. Schwabe, J. Hector, J. Chabot, T. Hubers, B. Schmitz, E. Martel, E. Skhiri, L. Maina, F. Kainz, D. Ljubicic, S. Tigges

Match Prediction for FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich

Everything has gone wrong for Bayern Munich after Tuchel took the seat as the head coach after as they have exited from the Champions League and lost the ground to their bitter rivals Dortmund. Their hiccups have set the world’s eyes on one of the closest and already classic Bundesliga seasons. Both the teams playing on same match day and the only way to go about it is to win.

Coming back from a battering loss at the hands of Leipzig is not a good feeling to go into this match. Bayern's only positive at this time is their record against Koln, who have only won twice in the last 20 matches against them. Koln has nothing to lose with them sitting at the bottom of top half with only intentions of taking advantage of their sorry season and make them pay in a memorable win, as Sir Alex Ferguson said Football, Bloody Hell!!

Prediction: FC Cologne 1 - 2 Bayern Munich

Telecast

India – SonyLIV app, Jio TV & Sony Ten Network

USA – ESPN+, FuboTV

UK – Sky Sports

Nigeria – Canal+ Sport, SportyTV