Joshua Kimmich rescues a draw for Bayern Munich against Cologne
Joshua Kimmich scored a stunning 90th-minute equaliser as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich narrowly avoided a shock home defeat to Cologne.
Bayern Munich 1-1 Cologne
Goals: 0-1 Skhiri 5' (assist: Chabot), 1-1 Kimmich 90' (assist: Upamecano)
After overseeing a resounding 7-1 win over Werder Bremen at the weekend, Steffen Baumgart promised that Cologne would stick to their guns in Munich. He wasn't lying. Bayern's back line was breached just four minutes into the contest, with Ellyes Skhiri first to meet Julian Chabot's flick-on from a Florian Kainz corner. Serge Gnabry tested Marwin Schwäbe at close quarters and side-footed wide, before Yann Sommer intervened at the other to prevent Skhiri turning in another Kainz cross. Nikola Soldo then made a crucial block in front of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on one of the rare occasions an off-colour Bayern seriously threatened the Cologne goal in the first half.
Julian Nagelsmann's decision to bring on Ryan Gravenberch and Kingsley Coman prompted something of a reaction from the record champions as Matthijs de Ligt forced a finger-tip save from Schwäbe. Gravenberch grazed the outside of the far post, before Schwäbe was called on to beat away Coman's near-post strike. It was all hands on deck for Cologne, who were having to do increasing amounts of work without the ball. Substitute Thomas Müller forced a flying save from Schwäbe, whose resistance was eventually broken - along with Cologne hearts - by Kimmich's last-gasp thunderbolt from fully 20 yards.
Match stats
- Bayern are without a win in 2023 (D2), but still have a four-point lead atop the Bundesliga.
- The defending champions have scored at least once in every Bundesliga home match since 9 February 2020 (0-0 vs. Nagelsmann's RB Leipzig).
- Kimmich scored his third Bundesliga goal of the season.
- Cologne last beat Bayern on 5 February 2011 (coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2), and haven't won in Munich since 21 February 2009 (2-1).
- Skhiri scored for the fifth time following a corner.
- Jamal Musiala failed to contribute a goal (score, assist or both) for just the fifth time in 16 Bundesliga appearances this season.
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Watch: Coman: "We need to do better"
Teams
Bayern: Sommer - Pavard, Upamecano, de Ligt, Davies (Tel 82') - Kimmich (c), Goretzka (Gravenberch 46') - Sane, Musiala (Müller 67'), Gnabry (Coman 46') - Choupo-Moting
Unused subs: Ulreich, Blind, Stanisic, Wanner, Sabitzer
Out: Hernandez (knee), Mane (leg), Mazraoui (heart), Neuer (leg), Sarr (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Cologne: Schwäbe - Schmitz, Soldo, Chabot, Hector (c) - Huseinbasic (Ljubicic 46'), Skhiri - Maina (Lemperle 71'), Olesen (Martel 46'), Kainz (Schindler 58') - Tigges (Selke 57')
Unused subs: Horn, Bakatukanda, Adamyan, Diehl
Out: Andersson (knee), Dietz (cruciate ligament), Hübers (ill), Kilian (muscular), Limnios (cruciate ligament), Pedersen (muscular), Thielmann (thigh), Uth (pelvis)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Watch: Nagelsmann: "A point is not enough"
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