Leaders FCB host confident Köln as season reaches halfway stage

A beginning and an end – this is the motto under which FC Bayern will meet 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga on Tuesday evening (live text and free Web Radio from 20:30 CET on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app). Julian Nagelsmann’s side can claim their first success of 2023 in their first home match of the year against Effzeh, who impressed last time out with a 7-1 thrashing of Werder Bremen. At the same time, this matchday concludes the first half of the season, which FCB will definitely end in top spot after the 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig. Get the lowdown on the midweek meeting in our preview.

📸 Check out the best photos from the final training session:

The situation for Bayern

The draw against pursuers Leipzig in the opening match of the year may have ended Bayern’s run of 10 successive wins in all competitions, but Nagelsmann’s men go into the first – hopefully of many – midweek fixture of the year with plenty of confidence. SC Freiburg’s 6-0 defeat at Wolfsburg means the lead at the top of the table is now five points ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt, the new team in second and the visitors to the Allianz Arena this Saturday. Before that, the Bavarians want to beat Köln and extend their 14-match unbeaten run.

“We weren’t good in our sequences against Leipzig and our shape wasn’t as good as usual,” said Nagelsmann in Monday’s press conference. “I’m sure we’ll be better in attack tomorrow,” promised the FCB coach.

Midway leaders ✅

The opponents: 1. FC Köln

The new year brought a change in fortunes for Köln on Saturday. Having collected just one point from their last five matches of 2022, Steffen Baumgart’s charges came flying out of the blocks in their 2023 opener, thrashing Werder Bremen 7-1 to move up to 11th in the table. Baumgart wants his side to stay there in Munich, although he acknowledged the contrasts ahead of this meeting. “One team want to be champions, the other want to stay up.”

FC Bayern 🆚 Köln – a fixture full of stories:

The team news for Bayern vs. Köln

Long-term absentees Sadio Mané, Bouna Sarr, Lucas Hernández, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Neuer remain sidelined for FCB. Everyone else is available for Nagelsmann, including probably Dayot Upamecano. “Everyone’s doing well. Upa has a bit of a problem with his toe, he pulled out of training. But it shouldn’t be a danger for the game.”

For Köln, Ellyes Skhiri is doubtful after picking up an ankle injury against Bremen. Jan Thielmann is expected to return to the squad after recovering from a thigh muscle injury.

📉 All the facts on the meeting with the Billy Goats:

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann: “The seven goals against Bremen give Köln confidence. They’re doing well, they have extremely high intensity on the ball but they also close down a lot defensively. They’re aggressive in counter-pressing. They play in a very brave, open way. I like that, they want to play football. We need emotionality on the pitch tomorrow and to defend ourselves in those moments.”

Steffen Baumgart (1. FC Köln): “Even in Munich we want to play our brand of football. We want to be just as brave as in the other games and not just ride it out in Munich. With a good performance we can get a good result.”

Watch Nagelsmann's pre-match press conference in full: