Bayern Munich kept a first clean sheet in 11 matches as they labored to a 2-0 victory over Bundesliga strugglers Cologne, delaying Bayer Leverkusen’s inevitable title-winning confirmation until at least tomorrow.With the Rekordmeister’s title aspirations all but over, they headed into this clash with relegation-threatened Cologne looking to avoid the ignominy of losing three consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time since May 2015. A sluggish start had the home fans worried, as did a gilt-edged chance for Sargis Adamyan, but stand-in goalkeeper Sven Ulreich made a fantastic reflex save to deny the Armenian.Kingsley Coman has been forced off through injury against Köln 🤕A big loss for Bayern Munich as hosts Arsenal in just a few days. pic.twitter.com/YYjIH1AVA7— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 13, 2024 It may have taken them nearly half an hour, but Bayern eventually found their feet as Raphaël Guerreiro forced a stunning stop from Marvin Schwäbe. The hosts began to turn the screw, with both Harry Kane and Mathys Tel rattling the woodwork with shots before the halftime whistle, but Thomas Tuchel’s men were left frustrated at being held at the break.Things got even worse for the hosts when Kingsley Coman was forced off injured within minutes of the restart. They pressed on regardless, with Tel forcing another strong save from Schwäbe before the deadlock was finally broken in some style. Bayern worked a short corner towards the edge of the area, where Guerreiro was waiting to curl home a gorgeous finish into the corner.
Cologne, the lowest scorers in the Bundesliga, perhaps unsurprisingly failed to muster a comeback as they remain rooted inside the bottom-two and four points adrift of safety. It could’ve been so different for the Billy Goats had Steffen Tigges converted from the edge of the box after Dayot Upamecano lost the ball in the Bayern third, but a fine stop from Ulreich secured a 20th consecutive head-to-head without defeat for Bayern – the longest active run in the Bundesliga against any one opponent. Thomas Müller added some gloss to the scoreline by slotting home the hosts’ second in stoppage time, as they warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Arsenal in midweek with a much-needed victory.
BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 29FridayAugsburg – Union Berlin 2-0 (0-0)/Tietz 47, Michel 81/Saturday Bayern – Koln 2-0 (0-0)/Guerreiro 65, Muller 90+3/Bochum – Heidenheim 1-1 (0-0)/Schlotterbeck 90 – Schlotterbeck 81 og/M’ gladbach – Dortmund 1-2 (0-2)/Wober 36 – Sabitzer 22, 28 pen/RB Leipzig – Wolfsburg 3-0 (1-0)/Olmo 13, Sesko 68, Openda 82/Mainz – Hoffenheim 4-1 (0-1)/Burkardt 47, Mwene 51, Gruda 63, Onisiwo 89 – Kaderabek 19/19:30: (1.53) Stuttgart (4.20) Eintr.Frankfurt (6.25)Sunday 16:30: (4.10) Darmstadt (3.50) Freiburg (1.90)18:30: (1.20) Leverkusen (6.75) Werder (14.0)***odds are subject to change***