Martinez and Bernat on target as Bayern ease to win in Cologne
Spanish defensive duo Javi Martinez and Juan Bernat were on target as Bayern Munich continued their march towards a fifth consecutive Bundesliga title with a 3-0 win at Cologne on Matchday 23.
Cologne 0-3 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Martinez (25'); 0-2 Bernat (48'); 0-3 Ribery (90')
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With Kingsley Coman starting a Bundesliga game for the first time since October, Bayern began in confident mood. The champions came close through Robert Lewandowski, Coman and Douglas Costa, before Javi Martinez was quickest to react to an Arturo Vidal cross and put Carlo Ancelotti's side ahead. Vidal and Thiago were immense in midfield throughout the half; their dominance was a key reason Cologne failed to test Manuel Neuer, one Yuya Osako header aside.
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It was the same story as soon as the action resumed after the interval. Bayern dominated and scored a merited second within three minutes of the restart, Bernat latching onto Thomas Müller's pass and firing a deflected shot low past Thomas Kessler. Bayern remained in control thereafter, going close through Martinez and Müller before substitute Franck Ribery rounded off the win from close-range late on.
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Talking Point
This was, clichéd as it may be, a champion display from Bayern, against a tough opponent with a good home record. Despite changes aplenty to the starting line-up, the Bavarians were unflustered and unthreatened throughout. Ancelotti's troops scored at the perfect time in each half, and it will take something special from here to stop them lifting a record fifth consecutive title.
Match Stats
- This was Martinez's first Bundesliga goal of the season, and first goal since November 2015.Costa and Coman started a Bundesliga game together for the first time under Ancelotti.Bernat's goal was only his second in the Bundesliga (his first came in Wolfsburg in January 2015).Bayern have had 16 different goalscorers this season, a league-high.
Line-ups
Cologne: Kessler (c) - Heintz, Subotic, Sörensen (Maroh, 56') - Olkowski, Clemens (Rudnevs, 63'), Höger (Jojic, 73'), Rausch - Osako, Zoller, Modeste
Coach: Peter Stöger
Bayern: Neuer - Lahm (c), Martinez, Alaba, Bernat - Thiago, Vidal (Kimmich, 73')- Coman (Rafinha, 82'), Müller, Costa (Ribery, 52') – Lewandowski
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Watch: Goalscorer Javi Martinez gives his thoughts on Bayern's win in Cologne:
