The DFB-Pokal returns to the spotlight this midweek, and few fixtures promise as much intrigue as the clash between 1. FC Köln and Bayern Munich at the RheinEnergieStadion on Wednesday night. For the hosts, it is an opportunity to revive pride and defy expectation; for the visitors, another step in what has been a flawless start to the season.
The DFB-Pokal has not smiled upon FC Köln for over four decades. Their last triumph came in 1983, and the closest they have come since was a losing final appearance 34 years ago. As they prepare to face a Bayern side yet to lose a competitive match this season, their hopes rest on the slim chance of an upset, one that would echo through club history.
Manager Lukas Kwasniok’s men arrive in this tie in disappointing form. The Billy Goats have managed to collect just four points from their last five Bundesliga matches, struggling to find consistency at both ends of the pitch. Their most recent outing, a 1–0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, was a painful one, settled by a 96th-minute goal that highlighted their inability to close out tight games. More worrying was the lack of attacking spark: Köln failed to register a single shot on target, marking their first goalless outing of the campaign.
The statistics underline the challenge ahead. Köln have gone 20 matches without defeating Bayern Munich, a barren run stretching back to 2011. Facing a side of Bayern’s pedigree would be difficult at the best of times; doing so while short of form and confidence only compounds the scale of the task. Still, in cup football, unpredictability has its own appeal, and the hosts will look to harness the energy of their home crowd to make life uncomfortable for the champions.
For Bayern Munich, the DFB-Pokal has been a rare blind spot in recent years. The record 20-time winners last lifted the trophy in 2020, but have since failed to reach even a single final. That drought is an anomaly for a club that continues to set the standard both domestically and in Europe, and Vincent Kompany’s side are determined to put it right this season.
Under Kompany’s leadership, Bayern have enjoyed a perfect start to the 2025–26 campaign, winning all 13 competitive matches across the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Europe. The Bavarians have scored a staggering 47 goals during that run while conceding just nine, a testament to both their attacking variety and improved defensive control. Their latest league outing, a 3–0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, further demonstrated their clinical edge and tactical maturity.
Kompany’s impressive start to life in Munich was recently rewarded with a contract extension, and his side look increasingly well-drilled. The blend of experience and youthful energy, from Joshua Kimmich’s authority in midfield to Micheal Olise’s creativity and Harry Kane’s ruthless finishing, has made Bayern a near-unstoppable force. With the Bundesliga and Champions League already high on their agenda, reclaiming the DFB-Pokal provides an additional source of motivation.
FC Köln are expected to play cautiously, likely adopting a compact shape with five defenders and two holding midfielders to crowd central areas. Kwasniok’s focus will be on limiting Bayern’s passing lanes through the middle and breaking quickly through Florian Kainz and Jan Thielmann on the flanks. The key will be discipline, both in their defensive positioning and in managing transitions when Bayern commit players forward.
For Bayern, control will once again be the foundation. Kompany is expected to deploy his familiar 4-2-3-1 setup, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka dictating tempo from midfield. The attacking trio of Olise, Luis Diaz, and Serge Gnabry will aim to stretch Köln’s backline, while Nicolas Jackson remains the focal point, thriving on both service from wide areas and second-ball opportunities in the box. Bayern’s pressing structure will be key in keeping Köln pinned deep, preventing them from building attacks through midfield. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
FC Köln approach this DFB-Pokal tie with severe injury concerns, particularly in defence, as Lukas Kwasniok prepares his side to face the most formidable attacking unit in German football. The situation worsened during their defeat to Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, when centre-back Timo Hübers suffered a gruesome knee injury that required immediate surgery. The club has since confirmed that the defender will be sidelined for an extended period, ruling him out of the clash against Bayern Munich.
Adding to their woes, fellow defender Luca Kilian remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury sustained in March 2024. His absence has left a significant void in the backline, as he was one of Köln’s most reliable performers last season. Meanwhile, summer signing Rav van den Berg is also out after sustaining a serious shoulder injury, further depleting the team’s defensive depth.
These setbacks have left Kwasniok with limited options, forcing him to adapt his tactical setup to compensate for the lack of defensive stability. The manager is likely to rely heavily on the experience of Dominique Heintz to marshal an inexperienced back three, while midfielders will be tasked with providing additional cover.
Given the defensive crisis, Lukas Kwasniok is expected to field his team in a 3-4-2-1 formation, aimed at maintaining compactness and limiting Bayern’s space in central areas. Marvin Schwäbe will continue as the first-choice goalkeeper, commanding the defensive line and tasked with keeping communication tight among his centre-backs.
The back three is likely to consist of Cenk Özkacar on the right, Eric Martel, a midfielder by trade, operating in a makeshift central defensive role, and Dominique Heintz on the left. Martel’s inclusion at the heart of defence reflects Köln’s shortage of options and underlines the scale of the injury crisis.
In midfield, Kristoffer Lund and Julian Sebulonsen will take up the wing-back positions, providing both defensive cover and width in transition. Denis Huseinbašić and Isak Jóhannesson are expected to form the central midfield partnership, balancing defensive discipline with the ability to launch quick counter-attacks.
Further forward, Malek El Mala and Jakub Kamiński will operate as the dual attacking midfielders, tasked with linking play and supporting the lone striker. Up front, Marius Bülter will lead the line, relying on his pace, work rate, and physicality to trouble Bayern’s centre-backs on the counter.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Schwabe; Ozkacar, Martel, Heintz; Lund, Huseinbasic, Johannesson, Sebulonsen; El Mala, Kaminski; Bulter
Bayern Munich enter their DFB-Pokal tie with 1. FC Köln carrying a few notable absences, though Vincent Kompany’s side remain stacked with depth and quality across the pitch. The defending Bundesliga champions are without three key players, each of whom has been sidelined for an extended period.
First, Alphonso Davies continues to recover from a knee injury that has kept him out since March. The Canadian full-back’s absence deprives Bayern of their most explosive outlet on the left flank, both in terms of pace and attacking transitions. In addition, Japanese defender Hiroki Ito remains unavailable as he nurses a lingering foot injury that has delayed his return to full training. Finally, Jamal Musiala, one of Europe’s most exciting young attacking midfielders, has yet to feature this season as he continues rehabilitation from a broken calf bone sustained during preseason. His creativity and dribbling will be missed in the middle of the park.
Despite these setbacks, Bayern possess the depth to rotate effectively without compromising their dominance. Kompany is expected to maintain his side’s attacking principles, relying on fluid movement and quick interchanges to break down a depleted Köln defence.
Vincent Kompany is expected to deploy Bayern Munich in his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, built around controlled possession, positional structure, and pressing intensity. Jonas Urbig will continue in goal, offering composure and confident distribution from the back. In defence, Arijon Bischof will likely start at right-back, with Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano forming a powerful central pairing, and Sacha Boey operating on the left flank in place of Davies. This backline provides a mix of athleticism, aerial strength, and passing ability, crucial for building from deep and containing counter-attacks.
The midfield double pivot will feature Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, a pairing that combines balance, control, and dynamism. Kimmich will serve as the deep-lying playmaker, orchestrating Bayern’s rhythm and recycling possession, while Goretzka will push higher to connect defence and attack, often making late runs into the box.
In attack, Luis Diáz is expected to operate from the left wing, cutting inside to link with central players, while Serge Gnabry will occupy the right flank, providing directness and shooting threat. Michael Olise, one of Bayern’s most technically gifted recent additions, will slot in behind the striker in the number 10 role, using his vision and creativity to unlock compact defences.
Leading the line, Nicolas Jackson will spearhead the attack. The young striker’s intelligent movement, finishing instinct, and ability to hold up play make him a perfect fit for Kompany’s fluid offensive system. Bayern’s wide players will look to feed him with through balls and low crosses, capitalising on Köln’s defensive instability.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Bischof, Kim, Upamecano, Boey; Kimmich, Goretzka; Diaz, Gnabry, Olise; Jackson
Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their last 20 meetings with 1. FC Köln across all competitions, winning 17 and drawing three since their last defeat in February 2011. The Bavarians have scored 59 goals in that span while conceding just 14.
FC Köln have not progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal since 2009–10 and have been eliminated by Bundesliga opposition in seven of their last nine campaigns.
Bayern have started the 2025–26 season with 13 consecutive victories across all competitions, scoring an astonishing 47 goals and keeping six clean sheets during that run, the club’s best start in over two decades.
While Bayern average 3.6 goals per game this season, Köln have struggled in attack, failing to score in three of their last five matches and registering the fewest shots on target among the Bundesliga’s bottom eight sides.
FC Köln have lost their last nine home matches against Bayern Munich in all competitions, conceding at least two goals in each of those fixtures. Their last home victory over the champions came in February 2009.
With Jamal Musiala still sidelined, Luis Díaz is set to play a pivotal role in Bayern Munich’s attack against 1. FC Köln. The Colombian winger has adapted impressively to life in Germany, adding flair, directness, and unpredictability to Vincent Kompany’s forward line. His pace and dribbling ability make him a constant menace for defenders, while his work rate without the ball perfectly complements Bayern’s high-pressing system.
Díaz’s ability to drift inside from the left and exploit half-spaces gives Bayern a valuable tactical dimension, particularly when Sacha Boey or Leon Goretzka push forward to overload Köln’s weakened right flank. His tendency to draw defenders out of position creates pockets of space for teammates like Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise, making him as much a playmaker as a scorer.
In matches where Bayern face compact, deep-lying opposition, as will likely be the case in this Pokal tie, Díaz’s sharp acceleration and one-on-one skill can prove decisive. If he can combine his attacking creativity with composure in front of goal, he could very well be the difference-maker once again. Expect him to be central to Bayern’s offensive rhythm, both as a scorer and as the spark that ignites their trademark fluid attacks.
FC Köln’s injury crisis, particularly in defence, could not have come at a worse time. Missing three first-choice centre-backs against a Bayern Munich side in relentless form leaves them vulnerable to the champions’ attacking depth and pace. While Lukas Kwasniok will look to pack the midfield and frustrate Bayern with a compact shape, sustaining that resistance over 90 minutes against the most potent attack in Europe will be a monumental task.
For Vincent Kompany’s Bayern, this fixture is as much about maintaining rhythm as it is about progression. Even without the injured Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, and Jamal Musiala, the Bavarians possess overwhelming firepower. The creativity of Michael Olise, the directness of Serge Gnabry, and the flair of Luis Díaz should ensure that Bayern dominate possession and carve out numerous scoring opportunities.
Köln’s best chance will lie in set-pieces or quick transitions through Marius Bülter, but the lack of firepower and defensive injuries will likely see them overrun by Bayern’s intensity. Expect the visitors to assert control early, dictate the tempo, and comfortably advance to the next round.
