Bayern Munich 5-1 FC Koln: Initial reactions and observations

Initial reactions and observations

• Bayern Munich made extremely difficult work of that. In the second half, the team totally lost control, and allowed Koln back into the game when they made it 2-1. Flick will be furious by how the game went.
• Hansi Flick’s subs were amazing. Two goals for Serge Gnabry, one assist for Thomas Muller, and one for Lucas Hernandez. He knows how to turn a game around.
• Thomas Muller killed Koln with his first touch after coming on. They were dominating proceedings and the Raumdeuter just said “no thank you”. What a player.
• Gnabry’s goals will hopefully give him some confidence — he’s struggled to score this campaign.
• Robert Lewandowski gets ever closer to the magic number 40. Can he really make it?
• Tiago Dantas is so small it defies belief.
• Leon Goretzka was arguably the MotM with 3 assists. He’s never gotten more than one in a game before. Good too see Hulk has evolved into Professor Hulk.

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FT — 5-1 to Bayern Munich.

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85’ — GOAL! Gnabry gets another! Third assist for Leon Goretzka!

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82’ — GOAL! Game over!! Gnabry slots home from a good pass by Lucas Hernandez.

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64’ — GOAL! Muller is magic! Just after coming on, he assists Lewandowski’s second and Bayern’s 3rd.

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63’ — Substitutions: Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry on for Jamal Musiala and Choupo-Moting.

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48’ — Goal. Poor defending by Bayern, especially Boa and Alaba. Koln get one back.

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45’ — The second half kicks off!

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Halftime observations:

• Bayern Munich are cruising — Koln have had no threat so far.
• Musiala is pressing really well. Good game from him so far.
• Choupo’s goal was well-taken. Never doubted him.
• Leon Goretzka is having an amazing all-round performance. Best player so far. He’s an underrated midfielder — we need to start talking about him more.
• Lewandowski scored, and he should be looking for more. These are the games where you get closer to the record.

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HT — 2-0 to Bayern.

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33’ — GOAL! Lewandowski makes it 2-0 for Bayern, Goretzka gets his second assist.

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17’ — GOAL! Choupo-Moting makes it 1-0, assist by Goretzka.

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Kickoff! We’re underway!

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One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! It’s a huge surprise, we have both Choupo-Moting AND Musiala starting. What does this MEAN, Hansi?

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After consecutive away games against Eintracht Frankfurt and Lazio, Bayern Munich are finally back home and ready to turn around their wretched spell of TWO games without a win in the Bundesliga. This time, its FC Koln who are in the crosshairs, but the Billy Goats are a deceptively tough opponent despite their meager position in the table.

Flick mentioned in his press conference that he wants to continue the team’s good spell of form against Koln, so its likely that he’ll go out there with minimal rotation. Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry, and Lucas Hernandez are all candidates to return to the side, while the continued absence of Benjamin Pavard due to covid might let Niklas Sule start a third consecutive game at right-back. It’ll be an interesting duel between Flick and Gisdol over who comes away with the three points, especially since Koln have made it their business taking points from the top teams this season.

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

Time: 3:30 pm local time, 9:30 am EST

TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country

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