FC Köln 1-3 FC Bayern München Player Ratings: Bayern Secure Comeback 3-1 Victory

FC Bayern München showed their champion mentality as they fought back to claim a 3–1 victory over FC Köln in an eventful Bundesliga clash at the RheinEnergieStadion. What initially looked like a potential upset quickly turned into a familiar story, with Bayern’s quality and composure proving decisive. It was a tale of two contrasting halves.

Köln made an energetic start and were rewarded for their bravery when Linton Maina produced a stunning strike to put the hosts ahead. Bayern looked momentarily unsettled, and the home crowd sensed an opportunity. However, the visitors responded just in time before the interval. A swift counter-attack ended with Serge Gnabry calmly finishing, restoring parity and shifting momentum back in Bayern’s favour.

After the break, Bayern Munich took full control of the contest. Their dominance in possession and territory eventually told when Min-jae Kim powered home a header to complete the turnaround. From there, Bayern dictated the tempo and snuffed out any hopes of a Köln response, adding a late third goal to seal a convincing comeback win. It was a reminder of why Bayern remain such a formidable force in the Bundesliga. Here’s a closer look at the FC Köln vs FC Bayern München Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Köln started brightly and deservedly led, but Bayern’s experience shifted the momentum before halftime.

• Dominance in possession and territory saw Min-jae Kim’s header complete the comeback.

• Bayern managed the game expertly and sealed the win with a late third goal.

FC Bayern München Player Ratings vs FC Köln

Here's a look at the FC Bayern München Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Manuel Neuer - 6.5: Couldn't do much about the stunning goal he conceded. He made a couple of crucial saves, especially one in the opening minutes to keep the score level. His distribution was as reliable as ever, punching away one cross and showing his class. A standard, solid day at the office for the captain.

Defenders

Min-jae Kim - 8.0: A colossal performance. He was a rock defensively, making five clearances and recovering the ball six times. What stood out to us was his decisive go-ahead goal, a powerful header from a corner. To score the winning goal as a center-back is always special. A fantastic all-around display.

Jonathan Tah - 6.5: Had a solid if unspectacular game before being substituted. He was strong in his duels and made a few important tackles and clearances. He was part of a defense that got caught out for Köln's goal, but he did his job reasonably well for the most part.

Hiroki Ito - 8.0: We were incredibly impressed by his performance. He was a constant threat down the left flank, creating two chances and registering an assist for Kim's crucial goal. He was very involved, with 92 touches and a constant desire to get forward. A very modern, attacking full-back display that caused Köln all sorts of problems.

Konrad Laimer - 7.0: A workhorse performance in the backline. He won 8 of his 13 duels, showing his tenacity. Laimer made three successful tackles and was a bundle of energy, helping to break up Köln's attacks and transition the ball forward. A really gritty and determined showing.

Midfielders

Serge Gnabry - 8.0: Scored the all-important equalizer with a brilliant finish just before halftime. That goal was a turning point in the game. He was a livewire throughout his time on the pitch, getting three shots on target and always looking to make something happen. A very impactful performance.

Leon Goretzka - 7.5: Dominated the middle of the park with his physical presence and passing range. He was everywhere, making interceptions, recovering the ball, and driving the team forward. He took a few shots from distance, showing his intent, even if they were off target. His control in midfield was key to the second-half dominance.

Luis Díaz - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply electric. The Köln defense couldn't handle his dribbling and movement. He created a staggering four chances, registered an assist and was unlucky not to score himself. His constant threat and creativity were the primary reasons Bayern were able to break down a stubborn defense.

Michael Olise - 8.0: Another player who was a joy to watch. He provided the crucial assist for Gnabry's equalizer and was a constant source of creativity. His passing and crossing were on point, and he was a nightmare for the Köln defenders to mark. His substitution was surprising given how well he was playing.

Aleksandar Pavlovic - 7.5: A metronome in midfield. His 95% pass accuracy from 94 passes tells you everything you need to know. He was composed, recycled possession effectively, and won the ball back 10 times. An incredibly mature performance from the midfielder who dictated the tempo of the game.

Forwards

Harry Kane - 6.5: It was a strangely quiet evening for the superstar striker. He worked hard, dropping deep to link play, but he missed a big chance and just wasn't his usual clinical self. He was involved in the build-up but his presence in the box wasn't as threatening as we're used to seeing. An off day by his incredibly high standards.

Substitutes

Lennart Karl, Dayot Upamecano, Tom Bischof - N/A: The substitutes came on to provide fresh legs and help see out the comfortable victory for Bayern.

Manager

V. Kompany - 8.0: His team showed great character to come from behind. After going a goal down, he must have delivered an inspiring team talk at halftime. His side came out and completely dominated the second half, and his tactical setup proved too much for Köln. A well-managed away win.

FC Köln Player Ratings vs FC Bayern München

Let's take a look at the FC Köln Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Marvin Schwäbe - 7.0: Despite conceding three goals, he was one of Köln's best players. He made five saves, including some spectacular ones to deny Gnabry and Olise. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse. He commanded his area well but was ultimately left exposed by his defense.

Defenders

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey - 6.0: A difficult day at the office for the defender. He battled hard and made seven clearances, but the relentless pressure from Bayern's attack was too much. He stood his ground but was part of a defensive unit that struggled to contain the opposition's fluid movement.

Sebastian Sebulonsen - 5.0: Really struggled to cope with the pace and trickery of Bayern's wingers. He was dribbled past twice and won only one of his five duels. It was a baptism of fire for him against some of the best attackers in the league. A learning experience, for sure.

Cenk Özkacar - 5.5: He had a tough time, particularly in the air, where he struggled against Bayern's forwards. He lost possession a few times under pressure and looked a bit overwhelmed by the quality he was facing. He made a couple of important tackles, but it was a long night for him.

Midfielders

Tom Krauß - 7.0: A real fighter in the heart of midfield. He made an incredible six interceptions and won eight of his ten duels. He was breaking up play all over the pitch and was a constant nuisance for Bayern's midfielders. A very impressive defensive display from him.

Jakub Kamiński - 6.0: He worked tirelessly for the team, making four interceptions and contributing defensively. However, he struggled to make an impact going forward and gave the ball away a few too many times. A battling performance but lacked quality on the ball.

Jan Thielmann - 6.0: Put in a decent defensive shift, making three tackles and four clearances. Like many of his teammates, though, he found it difficult to retain possession and his influence on the game waned as Bayern took control. A lot of effort with little reward.

Kristoffer Lund - 6.0: He attempted seven crosses but only one found its target, which sums up Köln's struggles in the final third. He worked hard down the flank and made some good tackles but couldn't provide the creative spark his team needed before he was substituted.

Forwards

Ragnar Ache - 6.0: An absolute monster in the air, winning 13 aerial duels. He was a fantastic outlet for his team, but his work on the ground was less effective. He lost possession 15 times and wasn't a threat in front of goal. A very one-dimensional performance.

Said El Mala - 5.5: He will be having nightmares about the big chance he missed in the second minute. That could have completely changed the game. After that miss, he offered very little and was anonymous for large parts of the match before being hooked.

Linton Maina - 7.5: Köln's standout performer. He scored an absolutely sensational goal from outside the box to give his team the lead. He was their biggest threat on the counter-attack and looked dangerous every time he got the ball. It was a shame for the team when he was substituted.

Substitutes

Fynn Schenten, Marius Bülter, Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson, Luca Waldschmidt - N/A: Brought on to try and chase the game, but by then Bayern were in full control and they couldn't make a significant impact.

Manager

L. Kwasniok - 6.0: His initial game plan was perfect. His team sat deep, frustrated Bayern, and scored a great goal on the counter. However, he had no answer to Bayern's quality after they equalized. His team was thoroughly outplayed in the second half, and his substitutions failed to change the tide.

Player of the Match

Luis Díaz was Sportsdunia's man of the match

Worst Performer

Sebastian Sebulonsen was the worst performer in FC Köln vs FC Bayern München.