As the spectacular 2022/23 season comes to an end on Saturday, Bayern Munich must win in Cologne and hope Borussia Dortmund falters against Mainz if they are to retain the Bundesliga championship (kick-off: 3.30 pm CEST).
While Jonas Hector, a club icon, and Timo Horn, a longtime goalie, of mid-table Cologne, will be saying goodbye, head coach Steffen Baumgart has already stated that there would be "no space" for nostalgia or complacency. Since he prepares to end a 13-year career at the club, Hector would be certain to lead the team anyway, but Horn has long trailed Marvin Schwäbe in the standings and, as Baumgart revealed, would only participate if the championship was no longer in play. The team that drew 1-1 against Werder Bremen on the previous Saturday, though, will see at least one forced alteration. Steffen Tigges, who scored the game's first goal and later left the game due to injury, has been ruled out, thus Davie Selke, who has scored four goals in his past five games, could be brought back as the lone striker. With a victory, the Billy Goats, who have lost only once in their previous eight games, might move up to ninth position. Earlier this year, they held Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw in Munich.
Bayern has led the standings on 22 of the 33 matchdays so far, but they enter the season's final weekend in second position. They have 90 minutes to obtain the victory they need to have a chance of winning the championship for the 11th consecutive year after losing to RB Leipzig and Dortmund's victory in Augsburg. The run will end if Dortmund triumphs, but if Bayern fulfills their half of the agreement and BVB falters, the Meisterschale will remain in Munich. Leon Goretzka, a central midfielder, was recalled by Thomas Tuchel for the 3-1 loss to Leipzig, but he plans to go all-out offensive in Cathedral City. Leroy Sane ought to replace Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who is still out with an injury, along with Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, and Thomas Müller, the Bundesliga's all-time leading scorer. Lucas Hernandez, like Manuel Neuer and Alphonso Davies, is back in the gym after an injury, but he's still not quite ready for a game.
Match stats
- Hector has played for Cologne in 346 games, including 227 in the Bundesliga.
- Earlier this season, Selke scored a penalty in the colors of his previous team Hertha Berlin during a 3-2 loss against Bayern. He may now make history by becoming the first player to score twice in a single season against the reigning champions for two separate teams.
- After defeating the record champions 3-2 on February 5, 2011, Cologne has gone winless in their past 17 encounters with Bayern (D2, L15).
- Gnabry has scored in four straight games to bring his total to 14 goals in a single Bundesliga season, tying a career-high. 11 goals have been scored by him in 10 prior encounters with Cologne.
- Bayern has twice reclaimed first place on the last day, surpassing Bremen in the 1985–1986 season and Bayer Leverkusen in the 1999–2000 season (both times on goal difference).
- This season, the Bavarians have lost eight occasions after being in a winning position (D5, L3). Since finishing 10th in 1991/92, it is their greatest point loss when in the lead (19).
Probable teams
Cologne: Schwäbe - Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector (c) - Skhiri, Martel - Ljubicic, Kainz, Maina - Selke
Out: Adamyan (foot), Dietz (cruciate ligament), Tigges (shoulder), Uth (pelvis)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Bayern: Sommer - Mazraoui, Pavard, de Ligt, Cancelo - Kimmich - Coman, Müller (c), Musiala, Sane - Gnabry
Out: Davies (thigh), Hernandez (knee), Neuer (broken leg)
Doubtful: Choupo-Moting (knee)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
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