Bayern had to overcome a deficit in Cologne with a goal from Linton Maina (41st). This was achieved thanks to the brilliant equalizer by Serge Gnabry (45th + 5), who overthrew Cologne goalie Marvin Schwäbe with a deliberate shot from a tight angle. As the second half continued, the defending champion’s dominance increased, Kim Minjae’s header (71′) and substitute 17-year-old Lennart Karl’s well-considered shot into the far corner (84′) made the away win perfect.
Cologne, who are in twelfth place, are already without a win in eight league games, Florian Kainz was on the bench against Bayern. Meanwhile, the Munich team maintained their lead of eleven points over their pursuers Borussia Dortmund. Third place RB Leipzig, which defeated SC Freiburg 2-0, is 15 points behind the leader.
Leipzig returns to winning ways
Leipzig returned to winning ways after two defeats before Christmas. Willi Orban scored with a header (53′). Goal number two was initiated by a saved header from Christoph Baumgartner, which the Brazilian Romulo completed with a header (56′).
Baumgartner, who was substituted in the 88th minute, formed Leipzig’s midfield together with his ÖFB colleagues Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager. Junior Adamu did not play for eighth-placed Freiburg, and defense chief Philipp Lienhart will be out injured for weeks.
Hoffenheim handles Mönchengladbach
1899 Hoffenheim under coach Christian Ilzer jumped to fifth place in the fight for the Champions League starting places with a clear 5-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Hoffenheim team put on a gala performance with winger Alexander Prass in the starting line-up before the break, especially striker Andrej Kramaric, who shone as a triple goal scorer (22nd/penalty, 45th+1, 45th+4). The other goals were scored by Tim Lemperle (24th) and Max Moerstedt (77th).
VfL Wolfsburg were able to celebrate important points in the relegation battle. Thanks to a 2-1 win against FC St. Pauli, Patrick Wimmer and Co. appeared to have recovered well from the 1-8 defeat against Bayern at the start of the spring. The Wolfsburg team scored points again after two defeats and gained breathing room in the relegation battle as they were now eleventh in the table. Christian Eriksen with a hand penalty (25th) and Dzenan Pejcinovic (88th) scored for the home team. The penultimate St. Pauli lost again after four unbeaten competitive games.
German Bundesliga, 17th round
Wednesday:
Cologne – Bayern Munich 1:3 (1:1)
Tore: Maina (41.) bzw. Gnabry (45.+5), Kim (71.), Karl (84.)
Bayern: Laimer played through
Cologne: Kainz on the bench
Leipzig – Freiburg 2:0 (0:0)
Tore: Orban (53.), Romulo (56.)
Leipzig: Seiwald and Schlager played through, Baumgartner until the 88th minute
Freiburg: Adamu on the bench, Lienhart (injured) not in the squad
Hoffenheim – Mönchengladbach 5:1 (4:0)
Tore: Kramaric (22./Elfmeter, 45.+1, 45.+3), Lemperle (24.), Mörstedt (77.) bzw. Machino (69.)
Hoffenheim: Prass bis zur 64. Minute
Gladbach: Stöger from the 69th minute
Wolfsburg – St. Pauli 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: Eriksen (25th/penalty), Pejcinovic (88th) and Smith (40th)
Wolfsburg: Wimmer until the 73rd minute, Pervan on the bench
St. Pauli: Robatsch on the bench
Tuesday:
Dortmund – Bremen 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: Schlotterbeck (11.), Sabitzer (75.), Guirassy (83.)
Dortmund: Sabitzer plays through
Bremen: with Friedl, Schmid until the 81st minute, Grüll until the 69th minute, without Wöber
Stuttgart – Frankfurt 3:2 (2:1)
Tore: Demirovic (27.), Undav (35.), Nartey (87.) bzw. Kristensen (5.), Amaimouni-Echghouya (80.)
Mainz – Heidenheim 2:1 (1:0)
Goals: Widmer (30th), Amiri (48th) and Schimmer (60th)
Mainz: Veratschnig until the 34th minute, without Mwene
Heidenheim: Honsak from the 75th minute, without Tschernuth
Hamburger SV – Leverkusen canceled
Thursday, 8.30 p.m.:
