Minjae Kim scored for FC Bayern. © ANSA / FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

Even a deficit won't stop these Bavarians.

FC Bayern finished the first half of the season with the best record in the history of the Bundesliga.

14 January 2026

From: dpa

Despite a tough 3-1 (1-1) victory against newly promoted 1. FC Köln, the record champions ultimately prevailed, undeterred by a nearly ten-minute pyrotechnic interruption and a blunder by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. FC Köln's jubilant lead, courtesy of a saveable shot from Linton Maina (41st minute), was overturned by goals from Serge Gnabry (45+5), Min-jae Kim (71st), and Lennart Karl (84th) to secure Bayern Munich's 15th win, with two draws in their first 17 matches of the season.

Three days after their 8-1 victory against VfL Wolfsburg, coach Vincent Kompany's team finished the first half of the season as undisputed champions with 47 points and a goal difference of +53. In the first half of the 2013/2014 season, FC Bayern had also finished with 47 points and a goal difference of +35.

Cologne has long been sniffing at the sensation

Because Bayern weren't playing with the same hunger as they had for much of their outstanding first half of the season, an upset was indeed in the air. Maina rewarded the Rhinelanders, who hadn't won since the beginning of November, for their courageous performance up to that point. After a lackluster challenge by Gnabry in the middle of Cologne's half, Maina ran to the edge of the opposing penalty area and fired the saveable ball over the hands of the bewildered Neuer and into the Bayern goal.

Even prodigy Lennart Karl scored for Bayern. © ANSA / FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

Despite Neuer's blunder, Cologne weren't able to maintain their lead at halftime. Gnabry redeemed himself with a moment of brilliance, making up for his hesitant tackling of nearly ten minutes earlier. From a tight angle, he beat FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe with an incredible, bouncing shot.

Bayern turned things up a notch after the break

After the break, Bayern predictably improved and, above all, became more dominant. The pressure from the visitors increased with every minute. However, clear-cut chances were scarce for a long time. This allowed Cologne to continue believing in an upset – until the impressive Kim headed in Bayern's second goal to make it 2-1. Late in the game, Karl also made his mark, capping it off with his fourth goal of the season.

Bundesliga, Matchday 17 – Results on Wednesday

1. FC Köln – FC Bayern München 1:3 (1:1)
Goals: 1:0 Maina (41st), 1:1 Gnabry (45th+5), 1:2 Kim (71st), 1:3 Karl (84th)

VfL Wolfsburg – St. Pauli 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 1:0 Eriksen (25th/penalty), 1:1 Smith (40th), 2:1 Pejcinovic (88th)

RB Leipzig – SC Freiburg 2:0 (0:0)
Goals: 1:0 Orban (53rd), 2:0 Romulo (56th)

TSG Hoffenheim – Borussia Mönchengladbach 5:1 (4:0)
Goals: 1:0 Kramaric (22nd/penalty), 2:0 Lemperle (24th), 3:0 Kramaric (45th+1), 4:0 Kramaric (45th+4), 4:1 Machino (69th), 5:1 Moerstedt (77th)