Bayern finish season in style

FC Bayern beat FC Köln 5-1 in the last Bundesliga match of the season. Harry Kane handed Bayern an early lead and soon doubled the advantage. Saïd El Mala pulled one back before Tom Bischof made it 3-1 midway through the first half, with Kane adding his third and Nicolas Jackson rounding off the scoreline in the second half.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Bischof, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Konrad Laimer in defence. Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Lennart Karl, Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz, with Kane up front. Josip Stanišić replaced Laimer at half-time, with Jonas Urbig, Michael Olise, Raphaël Guerreiro and Jackson coming on for Neuer, Karl, Musiala and Goretzka in the second half.

Dominant display

After FC Bayern said goodbye to Leon Goretzka, Raphaël Guerreiro and Nicolas Jackson, Vincent Kompany’s men got off to a perfect start, Karl’s cross inviting Kane to smash home. The Englishman doubled the advantage three minutes later when Munich were awarded a free-kick and he unleashed a drive that left Köln keeper Marvin Schwäbe rooted to the spot.

Köln soon pulled one back, El Mala winning the ball and finishing past Neuer. Bayern made it 3-1 when Karl’s cutback found Bischof, who fired into the bottom right corner. Schwäbe denied Díaz and Karl aimed too high before Díaz saw another effort saved and a Kimmich shot crashed off the post.

Hat-trick for Kane

Köln went looking for a reply after the restart, with Linton Maina miscuing. Karl hit the outside of the post and Díaz aimed wide. Musiala saw a shot deflected behind, but Kane rounded off his hat-trick when he unleashed a belter that screamed its way into the bottom left corner.

Goretzka put a free-kick into the wall and Olise’s pass only just evaded Guerreiro. Jackson added the final flourish with his first involvement. More chances came and went for Kimmich, Guerreiro and Díaz before Bayern celebrated the championship title.

The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday when they take on VfB Stuttgart in the DFB Cup final in Berlin.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen