Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich battled past hosts Cologne 3-1 on Wednesday to record the best first half of the season in the competition’s history and maintain their 11-point lead at the top of the standings.
Bayern came from a goal behind to record its sixth league win in the last seven games, moving to 47 points with a goal difference of +53. The previous best score after 17 games was for Pep Guardiola’s Bayern from the 2013/14 season, also with 47 points but a goal difference of +35.
The Bavarians, who host Union Sint-Gillis in the Champions League next week, clearly have water between themselves and Borussia Dortmund in second place with 36 points.
Cologne didn’t look at all intimidated by Bayern’s 8-1 defeat of VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday, taking a fully deserved 41-minute lead with Linton Maina’s spectacular 60-metre solo run and a superb finish against goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The visiting team managed to equalize before half-time when Serge Gnabry tapped the ball into the net from the tightest of angles from the tightest of angles in stoppage time of the first half.
Jakub Kaminski had the hosts’ best chance to score again with a low drive in the 58th minute, but Neuer did well to push the ball wide into a crowded box.
The hosts managed to keep Bayern out of the box for much of the second half, but could do nothing when Hiroki Ito headed a deep cross and Kim Min-jae nodded in for a 2-1 lead.
Teenager Lennart Karl made it all three points in the 84th minute when he scored from an assist from Luis Diaz.
Published on January 15, 2026
