Bayern target next round of DFB Cup away at Köln

Bayern and Köln have faced each other 106 times in competitive action, with the Bavarians winning over half of them (58). Things have very much been in favour of the record champions in recent years, although knockout ties have been somewhat rare of late. But this classic fixture of German football now returns to the DFB Cup on Wednesday as Bayern make the trip to Cologne (kick-off at 20:45 CET, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know ahead of this second-round tie.

Latest news from Bayern

Confidence is sky high at Bayern on the back of a 13-game winning run in all competitions – the best streak ever by a German team to kick off a season. However, the DFB Cup can often throw up surprises, as Bayern know all too well, having been knocked out in the second round in three of the last five seasons. The goal this time is to avoid the same upset in Cologne. “Köln have done very well so far, especially what they do in defence, playing with urgency to close down the spaces and prevent shots and crosses. They’re also pretty dangerous on the counter and have hurt a lot of teams already,” Vincent Kompany said at Tuesday's press conference. “Köln are playing at home, believe in their chance, but we’re going to Cologne with a lot of hunger for this cup campaign.” History is certainly on Bayern’s side in this tie, having won five out of six cup games against the Billy Goats. The most recent was in February 2003 and proved particularly memorable, as FCB won 8-0 to inflict Köln’s heaviest defeat since the Bundesliga was created in 1963.

Read more from Kompany’s pre-match press conference:

It all means victory away at the top-flight returnees is a must if Bayern want to have a chance of getting to the final for the first time in five years. “The hunger is great. Everyone’s excited. It’s a knockout tie. Everyone wants us to get to Berlin again, but that’s still a long way away. First we need to get to the next round,” added sporting director Christoph Freund. Although Kompany very rarely gives an early insight into his team selection, he did do so prior to Saturday’s Bundesliga game up the road in Mönchengladbach, confirming that Jonas Urbig will play in goal in his hometown in place of Manuel Neuer, who serves the second game of his cup suspension for his red card against Bayer Leverkusen last season.

Clue up on the facts ahead of the game:

Opponent: Köln

The four-time DFB Cup winners progressed to the second round with a dramatic 2-1 win over Jahn Regensburg, needing two goals in added time to beat the third division club. It was another tight cup tie for the Billy Goats, whose journey as a Bundesliga 2 club last season ended in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 derby defeat to Leverkusen, having earlier needed extra-time to beat Hertha Berlin and Sandhausen, plus a 3-0 win over Holstein Kiel.

Back in the Bundesliga this term, the Cathedral City club have got off to a good start. Although they were beaten 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, they were only breached deep into added time after playing a man down following Timo Hübers’ serious injury. The promoted side have 11 points to their name so far to sit eighth in the table.

Get the lowdown on Köln here:

Team news

Neuer is still suspended in the cup following his red card in last season’s elimination to Leverkusen. Bayern are also still without Alphonso Davies (cruciate ligament), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal) and Jamal Musiala (foot/ankle). “Otherwise, it looks good. We’ve got Raphael Guerreiro back fully fit. Josip Stanisic is also back,” Kompany stated.

Köln are missing defensive leader Hübers after his knee injury in Dortmund, as well as Luca Kilian (cruciate ligament), Jan Thielmann (muscular) and Rav van den Berg (shoulder).

Put your knowledge to the test in our matchday quiz:

What the coaches say