Copyright: IMAGO/Nordphoto
Ellyes Skhiri (2nd from left) cheers with Nikola Soldo, Mathias Olesen and Denis Huseinbasic (from left) about the FC leadership at Bayern, on Tuesday (January 24, 2023).
1. FC Köln annoyed FC Bayern Munich, taking a 1-1 draw from the Allianz Arena. Only Joshua Kimmich’s late dream goal prevented the complete sensation.
Up to the 90th minute, 1. FC Köln dreamed of the big sensation, their first win at Bayern Munich since 2009. Then Joshua Kimmich slammed the series champion at least to a 1-1. Nevertheless, the next strong appearance of the Baumgart troupe after the Bremen gala!
Cologne had lost nine times in a row against the big Bayern, Tuesday evening (January 24, 2023) FC finally took a point again.
For Steffen Baumgart (51) it was the first in his sixth attempt as a coach. The full-throttle coach says: “We’re going home satisfied.” Although only injury time separated him from victory…
Ellyes Skhiri ensures 1. FC Köln’s dream start at FC Bayern Munich
The first good FC news came before kick-off: midfield boss Ellyes Skhiri was able to get involved despite spraining his ankle from the Bremen game.
That paid off after just four minutes: Jeff Chabot extended a Kainz corner to the Tunisian, who shot at the second post. 1:0! At Bayern!
Sixer Skhiri had already scored twice in the 7-1 win over Werder, scoring Cologne’s fastest goal of the season and at the same time taking the lead in Munich for the first time since February 2009 – when FC last won Bayern Munich at carnival (2-1).
Munich’s new keeper Yann Sommer had certainly imagined his first few minutes in the Allianz Arena differently. He was greeted with whistles from the guest block. No wonder after eight and a half years in Gladbach.
FC only missed a step to immediately follow up: Mathias Olesen narrowly missed a Maina cross (9th). The Luxembourger was one of two starting eleven newcomers compared to the Bremen festival. Olesen replaced Eric Martel, Nikola Soldo replaced the sick Timo Hübers.
It took Bayern 14 minutes to recover from the false start. Then Gnabry had the chance to equalize from an acute angle, failed to Marvin Schwäbe (14th).
Marvin Schwäbe parries Bayern hits from Pavard and de Ligt
Bayern (almost 80 percent possession of the ball) increased the pressure – and Steffen Baumgart switched from a sweater to a T-shirt! Even faster than against Bremen. The FC coach endured half-time with long sleeves, this time only 20 minutes. At zero degrees and rain, he even showed his stomach…
Copyright: IMAGO/MIS
Bare belly at Bayern: Steffen Baumgart didn’t care about the icy temperatures on Tuesday (January 24, 2023).
Meanwhile, the series champion kept getting stuck on Cologne’s central defender duo Soldo/Chabot, who were playing together for the first time and delivered outstanding duel values at half-time: The Croatian didn’t lose a single duel (!), “Defender Jeff” shone with 80 Percent.
And because Schwäbe was in top form after a corner kick, Pavard’s hit was defused (44′), FC took the lead into the break. That gave whistles from the ranks!
In the second half, the next Bayern hammer, this time from de Ligt – again the Cologne keeper parried (48th). Likewise against Coman (54th) and Müller (79th). As much as Bayern pressed, some FC professional held back.
Until the 90th minute, when Joshua Kimmich shot from 30 meters to make it 1-1. At the 21st shot on goal, Schwäbe was powerless. How bitter!
Captain Jonas Hector: “It hurts in the back, so they should play us out beforehand. But that’s how it is sometimes in football. You defend 90 minutes and then you miss a step or two.” Florian Kainz adds: “We played well, but the equalizer was deserved, of course. Nevertheless, we can be very satisfied.”
And how! An outstanding team performance from Cologne, who are now seven points ahead of the direct relegation zone. What a phenomenal start to the year, on Sunday (3.30 p.m.) we continue at Schalke.
