Cologne-Bayern Munich is a Bundesliga Week 34 match and is played on Saturday at 15:30: TV, line-ups, predictions.
Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga is faltering. On the final day of a league that has not been so uncertain and hard-fought in years, the Bavarians are no longer masters of their own destiny. Last Saturday’s incredible defeat against Leipzig at the Allianz Arena (1-3) allowed Borussia Dortmund to overtake them yet again, to fly +2 from their rivals and to take back the top of the table with only 90 minutes to go.
Thomas Tuchel, the coach who took over from Julian Nagelsmann during the last national team break, will first have to beat Cologne. But at the same time hope for a miracle from his old team, Mainz, the last obstacle between Borussia Dortmund and the ninth title in its history. In the event of a win for the yellow-and-whites, any success for Muller and his teammates at the RheinEnergieStadion would serve little purpose. If, on the other hand, the two contenders were to finish level on points, goal difference would be decisive. And Bayern are currently unreachable in this respect (+53 vs. +39). No one has conceded fewer goals (37) and scored more (90) than the reigning German champions, not even Borussia themselves, but the cold numbers in this case do not tell the story of the difficulties Bayern Munich have encountered in a season that could well be described as ‘baleful’. Alongside the 20 victories we also find 8 draws and 5 defeats: too many missteps, unusual for a team accustomed to dominating from start to finish.
Tuchel, win and hope
There is also a lot of regret at home to Cologne. Steffen Baumgart’s men, who have never been involved in the relegation battle, could well have been aiming for another European place, their second in a row after last year’s seventh place finish in the Conference League.
Baumgart
But an excessive number of draws – Cologne are the team with the most, 12 in 33 matches – and a few too many defeats (11), prevented the Billy Goats from keeping up with the direct competitors for a place in Europe, slipping into an anonymous position in the standings. In recent months, however, the red and whites have been more consistent: since April, they have only lost to Freiburg, while collecting four wins and three draws. Last Saturday they drew 1-1 against Werder Bremen, the same result as in the January confrontation against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Cologne have not beaten the Bavarians at home since 2011.
The prediction
Bayern Munich have no alternative to victory and should not make any missteps against a goalless Cologne this time. A match of at least three goals in total looms.
Cologne v Bayern Munich likely line-up
- COLONIA (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe; Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector; Skhiri, Martel; Ljubicic, Kainz, Maina; Selke.
- BAYERN MONACO (4-1-4-1): Sommer; Mazraoui, Pavard, de Ligt, Cancelo; Kimmich; Coman, Müller, Musiala, Sané; Gnabry
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-3
