Bayern Munich: Kimmich salvages draw against Cologne
The number one team in the Bundesliga is in crisis. For a team that is expected to win most games convincingly, FC Bayern Munich only managed a disappointing draw against FC Köln on Tuesday night.
So far, FC Bayern has gotten off to a bad start in the new year. The league leaders only salvaged a fortunate 1-1 draw against a cheeky FC Köln after a powerful shot by Joshua Kimmich went in the net in the 90th minute.
Three weeks before its UEFA Champions League game against Paris St. Germain, coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team are desperately trying to find their form.
Second 1-1 draw in a row
Cologne was able to take the momentum from the impressive 7-1 win against Bremen, and took the lead in the fourth minute through Ellyes Skhiri. Germany national team footballer Kimmich equalized late, after a previously unsuccessful attempt. Now, Bayern’s league lead before their clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday could be reduced to just three points.
Nagelsmann made no changes to his starting eleven after the 1-1 draw at the start of the year against RB Leipzig. For World champion Thomas Müller, there was only a place on the bench until the 68th minute.
Bayern Munich, who fired goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic on Monday, immediately felt pressure. After a corner from Florian Kainz and Julian Chabot’s header, Skhiri found himself at the far post, completely wide open. New Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer was powerless as Skhiri made it one-nil.
Bayern took more of the initiative, but the wild actions often lacked precision, determination and an idea. As in Leipzig, Joshua Kimmich was not the usual pacesetter. Little came from Jamal Musiala, nor Serge Gnabry. After his controversial short trip to Paris Fashion Week on Sunday, the Nationalelf player was particularly in focus because his trip caused resentment among fans.
Nagelsmann replaced the weak Gnabry and Leon Goretzka with Kingsley Coman and Ryan Gravenberch. Both brought some momentum. But Schwäbe was initially the spoil sport against Matthijs de Ligt, Coman and Thomas Müller (79th), who came on as a substitute.
Cologne defended their narrow lead for 90 minutes and threw themselves into every ball. Especially in the second half, there was no relief at all. Cologne with zero shots on goal in this half. Bayern had 15. And one of them was a hammer blow from Kimmich from long distance, which couldn’t b stopped.
The fact that the goal came in the 90th minute made it a bitter end for Cologne. Nonetheless, taking the point is a great accomplishment. And Bayern will be angry that it wasn’t enough for more.
Photo: Imago