Bayern picked up their 14th consecutive win with their triumph over Cologne. - © Lars Baron

bundesliga

Bayern Munich break European record in DFB Cup win over Cologne

29.10.2025

Bayern Munich came from behind to defeat Cologne 4-1 in the second round of the DFB Cup, breaking a European top-five league record with a 14th consecutive win in all competitions at the start of the season.

Cologne 1-4 Bayern Munich
Goals: 1-0 Ache 31' (assist: Jóhannesson), 1-1 Díaz 36', 1-2 Kane 38' (assist: Olise), 1-3 Kane 64' (assist: Kimmich), 1-4 Olise 72' (assist: Díaz)

Cologne started well and, after wasting a couple of good opportunities to break the deadlock, they eventually did so when Ragnar Ache headed home Ísak Jóhannesson's corner.

However, Bayern struck back quickly through Díaz, before a brilliant Harry Kane turn and shot into the top corner gave the Bavarians the lead heading into the second half.

Around the hour mark, Kane nodded in from Joshua Kimmich's corner, before Michael Olise finished a lethal counter-attack by slotting home Díaz's square pass to complete the scoring.

Substitute Linton Maina hit the post for Cologne late on, but the Billy Goats were ultimately unable to stop Bayern continuing their winning start to the campaign. The reigning Bundesliga champions have now surpassed AC Milan's start to the term in 1992/93, when they won their opening 13 matches in all tournaments.

See all the 2025/26 DFB Cup fixtures and results

As it happened!

1 - 4

(1 - 2)

Cologne

FINAL

Bayern

DFB Pokal
Second round Second round RheinEnergieStadion

Full-time: Cologne 1-4 Bayern Munich

Despite a strong start from Cologne, even taking the lead through Ragnar Ache, Bayern are through to the next round after goals from Luis Díaz, Harry Kane (x2) and Michael Olise. Bayern have now won each of their opening 14 matches in all competitions this season - a new European record.

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Four minutes added on

This one is almost over.

89'

Bayern on the ball

The Bavarians are running the clock down with their place in the next round secure.

85'

Post!

So unlucky for Cologne, as Maina hits the post after driving into the box.

85'

Yellow card

Dayot Upamecano

85'

Circulating the ball

The hosts are keeping possession, although they are not really pushing forward with it.

80'

Fresh legs

Kwasniok makes a couple of changes for the final 10 minutes. Cologne will need something special to progress here though.

79'

Substitution

Linton Maina

Ísak Jóhannesson

79'

Substitution

Luca Waldschmidt

Jakub Kamiński

76'

Karl on

A chance for the on-form youngster to impress once more.

76'

Substitution

Lennart Karl

Michael Olise

75'

Substitution

Florian Kainz

Tom Krauß

That should be that

Clinical from Bayern, who strike on the counter-attack. The ball finds its way to Díaz, and the Colombian squares for Olise to slot home. Since going 1-0 down, Bayern have shown exactly why they are feared across Germany and Europe right now.

72'

Michael Olise

GOAL!

1:4

65'

Denied!

Tah's shot is saved. Bayern are really turning the screw now.

65'

Substitution

Cenk Özkacar

Marius Bülter

65'

Substitution

Denis Huseinbašić

Saïd El Mala

Two to the good

Kane can score all kinds of goals, as he shows here by heading Kimmich's corner home. A mountain to climb for Cologne now.

64'

Harry Kane

GOAL!

1:3

61'

Switching things up

A first change for Bayern, as Gnabry is replaced by Goretzka, who is more defensively minded.

61'

Substitution

Leon Goretzka

Serge Gnabry

56'

Save

A first chance of the half for Cologne, as Urbig pushes Martel's shot behind for a corner. It comes to nothing, though.

53'

What a chance!

Díaz has the freedom of the Cologne half as he is released with only Zieler in front of him inside his own half. He bears down on goal, but cannot hit the target as he fires over. That was a real opportunity to give his side breathing space.

50'

Another solid start

Again, Cologne have done well in the early stages of this half. They will be looking to translate that into chances.

46'

Back underway

Another 45 minutes left in this one.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Cologne 1-2 Bayern Munich

A breathless first half comes to an end. The two teams went toe-to-toe in the opening 30 minutes, and it was the hosts who drew first blood through Ragnar Ache's header. That only seemed to wake Bayern up, though, who turned the game on its head with quickfire goals from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane. Still all to play for in the second period.

Kick-off!

45'

+ 2

Yellow

A needless booking for Díaz after he kicks the ball away when Cologne win a throw-in.

45'

+ 2

Yellow card

Luis Díaz

45'

Two extra minutes

A minimum 120 seconds of additional time will be played.

45'

Slight lull

The game has been a little quieter since that Kane goal. That will probably suit Cologne, who will be eager to get into half-time and regroup ahead of the second period.

41'

Over

Cologne need to be careful to go into the break even further behind. A quick break finds Kimmich in the box, although his shot lacks precision. What a turnaround this has been.

Ruthless

That Cologne goal has kicked Bayern into gear, and they now have the lead. It is brilliant from Kane, who receives the ball, turns and beats Zieler. Work for the hosts to do now.

39'

Harry Kane

GOAL!

1:2

36'

All square!

Bayern are back on level terms as Díaz pokes home after Zieler had saved Stanišić's shot. That was a very quick response from the reigning Bundesliga champions.

36'

Luis Díaz

GOAL!

1:1

Lift off!

The corner comes in and is met by Ache, whose header is right into the corner. That is no less than Cologne deserve so far - and that is the striker's first goal for his new club since his summer arrival from Kaiserslautern!

31'

Ragnar Ache

GOAL!

1:0

31'

Intensity

Bayern are being put under real pressure by the hosts as they win another corner...

28'

Cheeky!

Bülter sees Urbig off his line from well inside his own half. The shot on goal has the required direction, but not the power as the goalkeeper recovers and grabs the ball comfortably.

26'

What a chance!

That is Cologne's best opening so far. Following a lovely move, Kamiński works some space in the area as he cuts in onto his right. He has a clear shot at goal, but his attempt is straight at Urbig. Either side, and that would probably have been the opener.

22'

Wide

Olise's shot flies well wide of the post. He will have expected more from himself there.

21'

Save

The Bavarians are starting to go through the gears now, and Kane has another headed chance. This time, he gets it on target, but it lacks the power and direction to beat Zieler.

18'

Double opportunity!

Bayern finally spring into action, as Díaz's low effort is saved by Zieler. The ball comes back to the Colombia international, who finds Kane unmarked in the box. However, the striker uncharacteristically wastes the chance as he heads wide.

16'

Denied!

Another shot on target for Cologne, again for a corner, as Ache's header is pushed away by Urbig.

16'

Missing the final ball

Cologne have found themselves in several dangerous positions so far, but the end product is missing right now. All in all, though, they will be happy with their display.

11'

Fantastic save!

The corner is only partially cleared and comes to Jóhannesson on the edge of the area. He shoots towards goal, and only Urbig's wonderful stop prevents him from finding the top corner.

10'

Corner

An opportunity for the Billy Goats to cause Bayern problems offensively.

Chance!

A fantastic opportunity for the visitors to take the lead as Díaz meets Olise's cross to the back post. However, he mistimes his jump, and the ball hits his chest before bouncing into Zieler's grateful hands.

Positive start

The hosts have seen a fair bit of the ball early on here. They are in no mood to let Bayern pin them back.

Early booking

El Mala goes into the book very early on following a late challenge on Upamecano. Not the start he or his coach Kwasniok will have wanted.

Yellow card

Saïd El Mala

Up and running

We are underway here in Cologne!

Kick-off!

Five minutes until kick-off

The tension is building in Cologne ahead of this one.

3:36

Watch: Teenagers taking their chance in 25/26

Karl is one of several teenagers who have made their mark this campaign.

Karl to make an impact?

The youngster starts on the bench tonight, but he will be eager to continue his fine recent form should he make it onto the pitch.

Cologne team news

Kwasniok, meanwhile, makes four changes to the team that lost 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund. Timo Hübers has undergone a successful knee surgery in recent days and is therefore unavailable, while Marvin Schwäbe, Cenk Özkacar and Denis Huseinbašić drop to the bench. Ron-Robert Zieler, Tom Krauß and Ragnar Ache take their places in the starting XI.

Bayern team news

Kompany shuffles his pack for this one by making five changes. Josip Stanišić, Jonathan Tah, Konrad Laimer, Aleksandar Pavlović and Serge Gnabry all come into the side, while Sacha Boey, Minjae Kim, Tom Bischof, Leon Goretzka and Nicolas Jackson all drop to the bench.

Cologne starting XI

Zieler - Schmied, Martel, Lund - Sebulonson, Krauß, Jóhannesson, Kamiński - Bülter, Ache, El Mala

Cologne subs

Schwäbe, Gazibegović, Heintz, Özkacar, Castro-Montes, Huseinbašić, Kainz, Maina, Waldschmidt

Bayern starting XI

Urbig - Stanišić, Tah, Upamecano, Laimer - Kimmich, Pavlović - Olise, Gnabry, Díaz - Kane

Bayern subs

Ulreich, Kim, Goretzka, Jackson, Bischof, Guerreiro, Boey, Mike, Karl

4:13

Watch: Record-breaking Kompany

From top player to top coach, Vincent Kompany has proved the doubters wrong and his Bayern side are thrilling the football world. A champion in his first season and now a record start to the new campaign, which has even seen him surpass Pep Guardiola.

1:00

Watch: The best of Lennart Karl so far

1:44

Watch: More from Vincent Kompany

Kompany talks Karl and El Mala

"When they manage to score from a counter, El Mala usually has a lot to do with it. He's got that first acceleration and then a second during the move. That surprises a lot of defenders. He can also shoot from those high-speed moves. He does that well. Having that feeling of being inactive and then suddenly launching the counter, that's a quality. But it's nice for him and Lennart Karl that they can improve even more. They'll show that in the coming months and years. It's good for Cologne and Bayern, but it should ultimately be better for Bayern."

Vincent Kompany on facing Cologne

"They've done very well so far, above all what they do in defence. I like the urgency they have, how quickly they close down the spaces to prevent shots and crosses. They're also really dangerous on the break and have hurt a lot of teams there already. They're at home, believe in their chance, but we're doing a lot right at the moment and want to take that into the Cologne game as well."

1:42

Watch: Brotherly love in Cologne

Said El Mala's making waves at Cologne, who also have elder brother Malek on the books.

Billy Goats out for an upset

Sitting eighth in the Bundesliga table after an impressive start to the season, Lukas Kwasniok's men will believe they have what it takes to upset the league leaders. With the second most aerial duels won in the league (184), and the third most distance covered (970.7km), Cologne have blended physical robustness with an exciting attack containing the likes of Jakub Kamiński and Said El Mala.

Hübers faces long injury lay-off

As suspected following the game against Dortmund on Matchday 8, Timo Hübers will be out for a significant period of time with a knee injury. "The diagnosis hits us all hard, especially him," said sporting director Thomas Kessler. "He has already fought his way back to the pitch twice after serious injuries at a young age – and we are confident that he will continue on his path this time as well."

1:07

Watch: Dortmund 1-0 Cologne

Despite goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe's best efforts, Cologne succumbed to a late Max Beier goal in Dortmund at the weekend.

1:01

Watch: Gladbach 0-3 Bayern

Bayern ran out 3-0 winners over 10-man Borussia Mönchengladbach to make it a European record-equalling 13 competitive wins to start the season on Saturday.

0:40

Big night for Urbig

You often see second-choice goalkeepers played in the cup, and that will definitely be the case for Bayern as Manuel Neuer serves a suspension for his red card against Bayer Leverkusen last season. It means Jonas Urbig will play against his boyhood club. The 22-year-old first joined Cologne's youth setup at the age of nine before eventually making the move to Munich in January this year.

Previous round

Bayern's start to their DFB Cup campaign was delayed owing to their appearance in the curtain-raising Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. They looked to be cruising at 2-0 up away at Wehen Wiesbaden before the 3. Liga side struck twice in six minutes to level. Harry Kane then produced the only penalty miss of his Bayern career before popping up in the 94th minute to net a winner and send the Bavarians into the second round.

Previous round

A goal down away to Jahn Regensburg with the tie ticking into added time, Lukas Kwasniok's men amazingly mustered two quick-fire efforts at the death through Eric Martel (90'+6) and Ísak Jóhannesson (90'+8) to send the away side through.

2:20

Watch: El Mala's best dribbles

While Bayern will be overwhelming favourites to win, Cologne's not-so-secret weapon this season is 19-year-old winger Saïd El Mala, who has sparkled in the Bundesliga in 2025/26. Here's a taste of what he can do...

Cup history

Bayern have lifted the DFB Cup trophy more than any other side (20), doing so most recently in 2020. Cologne have done so four times (1968, 1977, 1978, 1983), while they have earned runners-up medals on a further six occasions.

2:03

Previous meeting: Bayern 2-0 Cologne

The most recent fixture between these two was in April 2024 when Bayern won 2-0 on Matchday 29 thanks to goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Thomas Müller. That was one of 54 victories for Bayern over the Billy Goats in 106 match-ups. The remaining games have ended in draws 24 times and another 24 wins for Cologne.

History on Bayern's side

This will be the seventh DFB Cup meeting between these times. Cologne have won just once, back in 1972, while the Reds have prevailed every other time, most recently in February 2003 when Giovane Elber (pictured) hit a hat-trick in an 8-0 success.