Cologne ready for another battle under the lights against unbeaten Bayern Munich
With their determined play and the hugely talented Saïd El Mala in their ranks, newly promoted Cologne have reason to believe they can stretch unbeaten league leaders Bayern Munich on Wednesday night (kick-off: 8.30pm CET). We look how Cologne can spring an upset...
"I was starting to worry about the roof of the stadium" is how Lukas Kwasniok described the minutes after Ragnar Ache gave Cologne a deserved lead against Bayern in their DFB Cup clash in October.
Anyone in German football could tell you a packed RheinEnergie Stadion is one of the toughest places for an away team to visit. Under the lights, that is perhaps even more the case.
While Bayern levelled within five minutes of going behind in the cup encounter and ran out 4-1 winners, a triumphant Vincent Kompany acknowledged his side had faced a "real battle".
The tactical template, therefore, appears to be set as the Billy Goats prepare to lock horns with the champions again this Wednesday.
"We managed to challenge them well for 30 minutes, stress them and keep them away from our goal," was Kwasniok's assessment of the promising start to the cup encounter. He said ahead of their league meeting: "We need to go to our limits and make it unpleasant for them."
Kwasniok said his side are not feeling pressure from their current run of seven matches without a win, and praised their spirit as they look to find their footing again in the Bundesliga after promotion.
Watch: Heidenheim 2-2 Cologne - highlights
That spirit was certainly on display as Cologne came back from behind twice to secure a valuable point with a 2-2 draw at Heidenheim on Saturday.
Cologne's young gem Saïd El Mala struck another fine goal to level the scores, and for all the talk of Bayern's Michael Olise and Luis Díaz resembling the great Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, the 19-year-old has the art of darting in off the left flank and sending unstoppable drives into the net down to a tee.
Watch: The best of El Mala
Defensive discipline will naturally be required in spades against a Bayern side that fired eight goals past Wolfsburg in their first match of the new year.
Defensive stalwart Eric Martel's suspension complicates matters, but young loan signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey will be raring to show his talent against countryman Harry Kane on just his second appearance for the club.
Kwasniok says Cenk Özkacar will also make the fifth start of his season-long loan from Valencia against Bayern.
Watch: Jahmai Simpson-Pusey arrives at Cologne
With Bayern on the brink of completing the most successful first half of a season in Bundesliga history with a win, Kwasniok is under no illusion as to how difficult the game will be. "Everything is possible in football, but the probability is lower against Bayern," he admitted. "I'm sure that my team will give their all, and that is important to me."
Given how much of a boost their survival bid might gain from a shock result against the defending champions - who've recorded 14 wins and two draws so far this league season - Cologne are clearly determined to seize whatever chance they can fashion against this brilliant Bayern side, setting the scene for a spectacular clash on Wednesday night.
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