Cologne and Bayern will battle it out for a place in the third round of the 2025-26 DFB Pokal Cup at the RheinEnergieStadion on Wednesday.
Both teams saw off the threat of lower-league opposition in the opening round, as the hosts dramatically defeated Regensburg, while their visitors narrowly edged past Wehen.
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Cologne vs Bayern Munich prediction: Bavarians to progress
Key stats
- Bayern are currently on a 16-game winning streak across all competitions.
- In that span, the Bundesliga champions have opened the scoring on each occasion.
- Six of Cologne's last eight matches have ended with both teams scoring.
Correct score prediction: Cologne 1-3 Bayern Munich
Bayern have been imperious since the start of the season, and another easy win for Vincent Kompany's men is on the cards here, with Cologne unlikely to find any chink in the Bavarians' armour.
We fully fancy the visitors to make light work of their hosts and cruise into the next round of the German Cup.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Cologne faced with Herculean task
- HOME: 15/52 (8.50) – 11.8%
- DRAW: 5/1 (6.00) – 16.7%
- AWAY: 2/9 (1.22) – 81.8%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Given Bayern's remarkable run of results heading into the clash, they are heavy favourites to get the job done with an away win priced at 2/9 (1.22).
Second-half goals from Joshua Kimmich, Raphael Guerreiro and Lennart Karl maintained the Bavarians' 100% start to the season, which, however, could have easily come to an end in their DFB Pokal opener against Wehen but for Harry Kane's 94th-minute header to secure a 3-2 win.
Fresh from a late 1-0 loss against Borussia Dortmund for a third defeat in five outings, Cologne have been given only an 11.8% chance of coming out on top here.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: Bayern all the way
Given that Cologne only just secured promotion back to the German top flight, Wednesday's meeting between the sides is the first since April 2024, when Bayern claimed a 2-0 win to complete a league double in the 2023-24 campaign.
That extended Bayern's winning streak in this fixture to three games, and Kompany's side are unbeaten in 20 straight competitive matchups against their upcoming opponents, with their only defeat in 11 years coming in a friendly matchup four years ago.
Germany Bundesliga I 13/04/24
Bayern Munich
Cologne
Germany Bundesliga I 24/11/23
Cologne
Bayern Munich
Germany Bundesliga I 27/05/23
Cologne
Bayern Munich
Germany Bundesliga I 24/01/23
Bayern Munich
Cologne
Germany Bundesliga I 15/01/22
Cologne
Bayern Munich
Cologne preview: Die Geißbocke aiming to steady the ship
After winning their first four matches of the season, Cologne have only won one of the subsequent six outings ahead of their daunting assignment against Europe's most in-form team.
Lukas Kwasniok's men need a pick-me-up, and a shock win against Bayern could be just the catalyst needed to spark a turnaround.
Predicted lineup: Schwabe(GK), Ozkacar, Martel, Hubers, Lund, Huseinbasic, Johannesson, Sebulonsen, El Mala, Kaminski & Bulter
Cologne's last five matches:
- Dortmund 1-0 Cologne (Bundesliga)
- Cologne 1-1 Augsburg (Bundesliga)
- Hoffenheim 0-1 Cologne (Bundesliga)
- Cologne 1-2 Stuttgart (Bundesliga)
- Leipzig 3-1 Cologne (Bundesliga)
Bayern Munich preview: Juggernaut still rolling
Despite being a man up since the 19th minute, Bayern struggled to break down Borussia Monchengladbach in the opening hour before a five-minute salvo put them in the driving seat.
Wednesday's visitors are the only team in Europe to have won every match, and it is safe to say that run does not look like coming to an end anytime soon.
Predicted lineup: Urbig(GK), Guerreiro, Tah, Kim, Boey, Pavlovic, Goretzka, Karl, Gnabry, Jackson & Kane
Bayern Munich's last five matches:
- Borussia Monchengladbach 0-3 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
- Bayern Munich 4-0 Club Brugge (Bundesliga)
- Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga).
- Frankfurt 0-3 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
- Pafos 1-5 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Player to watch – Harry Kane
Kane failed to find the back of the net for the first time in 11 matches in Saturday's win over Monchengladbach, but has been on fire this term with 23 goals for club and country since the start of the season.
The Englishman has rarely gone consecutive matches without scoring of late and will be raring to return to the scoresheet on Wednesday.
After his first-round double against Wehen, Kane currently trails Dzenan Pejcinovic at the top of the DFB Pokal scoring charts ahead of his second trip to RheinEnergieStadion, where he was on target last time out.