Changes promised as favourites Bayern begin cup campaign at Viktoria Köln

FC Bayern’s meeting with third-tier outfit FC Viktoria Köln on Wednesday evening (live text and free Web Radio from 20:46 CEST on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app) concludes the first round of the 2022/23 DFB Cup. The record cup winners’ opening match was postponed by a month due to their involvement in the DFL-Supercup at the end of July. All the information on the clash in Cologne is right here:

See the images from the final training session on Tuesday:

The situation for FC Bayern

Having won their first four competitive games of the season, Bayern had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend - and that’s despite having 19 attempts on the Gladbach goal, a new Bundesliga record since data collection began. Wednesday evening’s contest could be similarly one-sided, but being the favourites isn’t always easy. “We have to perform and obviously we want to reach the next round, but as we know, it’s rarely a gift against lower-league opponents,” warned the experienced Thomas Müller.

Watch Julian Nagelsmann’s pre-match press conference in full with English translation:

The opponents: Viktoria Köln

Viktoria have made a decent start to their league campaign with 10 points from the first six rounds of matches, putting them in eighth place in the 3. Liga. The Cologne club are unbeaten at home stadium Sportpark Höhenberg so far this term, following up two wins with a 1-1 draw against leaders 1860 Munich last time out. For this game, however, Olaf Janßen’s men are relocating to the stadium of city rivals 1. FC Köln and hoping to pull off an upset in front of 50,000 fans at the sold-out RheinEnergieSTADION. Julian Nagelsmann has therefore warned his team that “it won’t be an easy game”. That said, the Bayern boss is looking forward to the atmosphere in Cologne. “It’s a great setting with the stadium and the big crowd,” said Nagelsmann.

Here are the facts on the tie:

The team news for Viktoria Köln vs. FC Bayern

The 35-year-old confirmed there will be changes for his side’s first midweek fixture of the season, with Mathys Tel, Josip Stanišić, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui all set to start. Jamal Musiala is not yet back to 100 percent following his recent knock and is therefore not in contention to start. Leon Goretzka and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting are both expected to be in the squad following knee and kidney stone operations respectively, with Nagelsmann keen to give the pair some “rhythm” with a brief appearance.

Leon Goretzka spoke in an interview about his potential comeback in Cologne:

What the coach says

Julian Nagelsmann: “Viktoria have an experienced coach and experienced players. They did well against Hoffenheim in the cup last year. In the league they play a very bold game, they press high but can also defend deep. They can play their way out and they want to play football in the league, but at the same time are good on the second balls and dangerous at set pieces. It won’t be an easy game. It’s a great setting with the stadium and the big crowd.”