Bayern Munich came from behind to maintain their 11-point advantage at the Bundesliga summit following a 3-1 victory over Koln at RheinEnergieSTADION on Wednesday.
2025/2026 Bundesliga
1-3
Match Report
Linton Maina's stunning solo goal gave the hosts a deserved lead, but Vincent Kompany's side flexed their muscles to ensure their unbeaten start to their season continued.
Said El Mala forced Manuel Neuer into an early save at his near post before the game was halted soon after as smoke from flares within the crowd descended onto the pitch.
Once play resumed, Hiroki Ito was denied in the 20th minute by Marvin Schwabe, with the Koln goalkeeper also denying Michael Olise with a smart stop down to his right-hand side.
But four minutes before the break, Koln took a surprise lead when Maina dispossessed Serge Gnabry before running from his own box to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.
However, the hosts' joy was short-lived as Bayern hit back in first-half stoppage time through Gnabry, who bounced his shot over Schwabe following a sensational first touch.
Jakub Kaminski stung the palms of Neuer just before the hour, but Bayern got themselves ahead when Min-Jae Kim nodded home after Ito kept the ball in play on the line.
And the three points were sealed six minutes from time when Luis Diaz teed up substitute Lennart Karl, who stroked the ball into the bottom-left corner from inside the box.
Data Debrief: Bayern survive scare in style
Bayern have now not lost any of their last 22 competitive matches against Koln (W20 D2), but they were given a scare after Maina's opening goal. However, they were able to recover and produce another dominant display here.
Indeed, the Bundesliga leaders ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.31 from their 19 shots, compared to Koln's 0.72 from eight attempts, with three of those troubling Neuer in the Bayern goal.
And despite not getting on the scoresheet, Diaz got himself another league assist in 2025-26. He now has 18 goal involvements (nine goals, nine assists) in the Bundesliga this season, matching his personal best record in a league campaign (also 18 in the 2024-25 Premier League with Liverpool).
The Colombian also finished the match with team-high totals for touches in the opposition box (13), chances created (three) and successful dribbles (five), while only Olise (35) played more passes into the final third than Diaz (28).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
4' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
20' Highlight from Cologne vs Bayern
21' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
24' Highlight from Cologne vs Bayern
33' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
35' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
36' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
38' Highlight from Cologne vs Bayern
41' GOAL! Cologne 1-0 Bayern (Linton Maina)
48' Highlight from Cologne vs Bayern
50' GOAL! Cologne 1-1 Bayern (Serge Gnabry)
54' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
56' Highlight from Cologne vs Bayern
58' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
67' Match Event for Cologne vs Bayern
71' GOAL! Cologne 1-2 Bayern (Min-jae Kim)
82' Highlight from Cologne vs Bayern
84' GOAL! Cologne 1-3 Bayern (Lennart Karl)
Line-ups
Cologne XI: Marvin Schwäbe, Ragnar Ache, Linton Maina, Cenk Özkacar, Jakub Kaminski, Kraus, Sebastian Sebulonsen, Jan Thielmann, Kristoffer Lund, Simpson-Pusey, Said El Mala
Subs: Ron-Robert Zieler, Kainz, Waldschmidt, Marius Bülter, Alessio Castro-Montes, Ísak Jóhannesson, Denis Huseinbasic, Youssoupha Niang, Fynn Schenten
Bayern XI: Neuer, Kane, Goretzka, Gnabry, Tah, Laimer, Min-jae Kim, Hiroki Ito, Luis Díaz, Olise, Pavlovic
Subs: Guerreiro, Upamecano, Jonas Urbig, Tom Bischof, Felipe Chávez, David Santos Daiber, Lennart Karl, Wisdom Mike, Cassiano Kiala