Pavard and Gnabry expecting tight contest in Cologne

A tricky assignment awaits FC Bayern in their first away match of the new year. On Saturday (kick-off 15:30 CET), the Munich men visit 1. FC Köln, who could be described as the team of the moment in the Bundesliga. Steffen Baumgart’s charges have won three on the bounce, taking them to an impressive sixth place in the table.

“I think it’ll be a difficult game, especially with the form Köln are in at the moment,” said Serge Gnabry. “That obviously gives them a lot of confidence. They’re a team who are physically very strong and also use that very well.” That said, the 26-year-old appears to enjoy playing against the Billy Goats. He’s scored a brace in each of the last two meetings between the two sides, and in total Gnabry has netted 11 times in eight Bundesliga matches against Köln - more than he has against any other team. “If we impose our game, with a lot of possession, I think we’ll eventually break them down,” added the Bayern winger.

Defender Benjamin Pavard is also expecting a “very tight contest. We’re up against a very good Köln side, with a very good coach who likes to play good football.” Pavard and his teammates are determined to make amends for the 2-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the opening match of the second half of the season last Friday. “We’re going to play a different kind of football - more like what we’re used to. We’re going to do everything to win, to come away with the three points and pick up the momentum again that we had last year,” declared the France international.

Brush up on the facts and stats ahead of the match: