Bayern advance to last 16 with 4-1 win at Köln

FC Bayern beat Köln 4-1 on Wednesday night to progress to the DFB Cup round of 16. Köln took the lead through Ragnar Ache, but Luis Díaz and Harry Kane scored to turn things around before half-time. Kane and Michael Olise rounded off the final scoreline after the restart as Bayern claimed their 14th consecutive win in 2025/26, a new record among Europe’s top five leagues to begin a season.

Bayern lined up with Jonas Urbig in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Josip Stanišić in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović anchored a midfield featuring Olise, Serge Gnabry and Díaz, with Kane up front. Leon Goretzka, Lennart Karl, Sacha Boey, Raphaël Guerreiro and Nicolas Jackson took over from Gnabry, Olise, Stanišić, Díaz and Kane in the second half.

Bayern turn things around

It was a very entertaining first half with lots of chances at both ends. Díaz saw an effort saved before Urbig made a fine stop against Isak Johanesson and denied Ache. Gnabry fired over and Díaz saw a shot parried before Kane headed wide and had another header saved.

Urbig denied Jakub Kaminski but was unable to keep out Ache’s header from a corner. Bayern levelled the scores within five minutes when a Stanišić shot was parried, with Díaz on hand to mop up the rebound. Munich soon turned things around, with Olise teeing up Kane, who found the far corner of the net on the spin.

Kane and Olise on target

Munich could have made it three after the restart, only for Díaz to fire over with only keeper Ron-Robert Zieler to beat. Ache headed wide at the other end, with Urbig saving low from Eric Martel. Bayern extended their lead when Kimmich’s corner invited Kane to head home from close range.

Vincent Kompany’s men then put the game to bed on the break, with Pavlović finding Díaz, who invited Olise to slot in. Linton Maina hit the post before the match petered out as Bayern claimed a deserved victory and place in the last 16.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they entertain Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. They will learn the identity of their next cup opponents on Sunday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen