FC Köln vs. Bayern Munich preview: Can the Bavarians remain unbeaten?
Having won nine and drawn two of their 11 league games this season, Bayern Munich will look to maintain their unbeaten record in the Bundesliga when they face FC Köln on Friday.
FC Köln
Köln’s difficult campaign will not get any easier with the champions set to visit the RheinEnergieStadion on Friday. Having picked up just six points from 11 matches, Steffen Baumgart’s side are currently two points adrift from safety.
After losing six of their opening seven Bundesliga games, Köln can at least take confidence from the fact they have lost just one of their last four league matches. They ended October with a win over Borussia Mönchengladbach and a heavy defeat to RB Leipzig, before they began November with consecutive 1-1 draws against Augsburg and Bochum.
Despite scoring in their last two outings, die Geißböcke are currently the lowest scorers in the top flight, having registered just nine goals in the Bundesliga this season.
Although they need to improve in the final third, Köln know their main focus on Friday will be on their defensive duties. Having conceded in each of their last 14 top-flight matches, Köln will have their work cut out to keep Bayern at bay.
Team News
The hosts are expected to be without the services of Philipp Pentke and Jacob Christensen.
Bayern Munich
Bayern carried significant momentum into the international break after they bounced back from their surprise DFB-Pokal exit to record three consecutive victories across all competitions. They dismantled Borussia Dortmund via a 4-0 scoreline, before edging out Galatasaray to seal their place in the Champions League knockout rounds with a game to spare.
In their final match before the international period, the Bavarians beat newly-promoted Heidenheim 4-2 thanks to a Harry Kane brace and goals from Raphaël Guerreiro and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. That result ensured Bayern went into the break in second place and two points adrift of leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Having won six and drawn one of their previous seven away trips in the Bundesliga, Bayern will be looking to extend their unbeaten away league run this weekend. The visitors will certainly be confident of doing just that after winning each of their nine away meetings with Köln. With Leverkusen set to play on Saturday, Bayern would move top with a win at the RheinEnergieStadion.
Team News
The Bavarians are unable to call upon Matthijs de Ligt, Jamal Musiala and Tarek Buchmann due to injury.