DFB-Pokal thriller in Cologne: Kwasniok sees no weaknesses in Bayern | OneFootball

1. FC Cologne dreams of a cup miracle. But Lukas Kwasniok is tempering expectations. The FC coach speaks openly before the duel against FC Bayern about the overwhelming challenge awaiting his team.

On Wednesday evening (8:45 p.m., live on ARD and Sky), Cologne will host the record cup winners in Müngersdorf. For Kwasniok, one thing is clear: against these Bayern, it takes more than just passion. “I looked for weaknesses, but I didn’t find any,” the 44-year-old explained in an interview with DFB.de.

He continued: “They can run a lot, run intensely, they are extremely fast in both directions, they can press high, but also defend the goal passionately when necessary.”

Bayern Untouchable in Cologne for Years

The respect shown by Cologne’s coach is not unfounded, as a glance at the numbers reveals. Since a 2-3 defeat in February 2011, FC Bayern has won each of its ten away games at FC Cologne. The most recent duel in November 2023 was decided by a goal from Harry Kane, giving Munich a 1-0 victory. Overall, the record champions are unbeaten in 20 competitive matches against Cologne—a streak that is set to continue on Wednesday evening. Added to this is Munich’s outstanding start to the season, with 13 wins in 13 competitive matches.

The history in the DFB Cup also clearly favors Bayern. Five of the previous six encounters have gone to the record cup winners, with the only defeat dating back to the 1971/72 season. Back then, a 3-0 win in the first leg was not enough to progress, as Cologne won the return leg 5-1—a slip-up that should not be repeated.

Kwasniok Praises Kompany and Bayern’s Unity

Photo: FC Bayern

In addition to their playing quality, Kwasniok especially highlights the work of Bayern’s coach Vincent Kompany. “What I’m looking forward to most is meeting Vincent Kompany. He is a very likeable person and a very good coach. He has shaped Bayern into a unit. That’s what sets them apart,” said the Cologne coach.

Despite all his admiration, FC will try everything on Wednesday to trouble the favorites. “We have a home game, and our task is to give the 50,000 people in the stadium a day to celebrate,” emphasized Kwasniok. Whether this turns into a sensation depends not least on whether Bayern continues their impressive run—or if the underdog really plays the game of their lives.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.