Bayern Munich Dramatic Retain Bundesliga Season 2022/2023

Bayern Munich must win in Cologne and hope Borussia Dortmund slip up against Mainz if they're to retain the Bundesliga title when a dramatic 2022/23 season reaches its conclusion on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST).


Although mid-table Cologne have nothing concrete to play for and will be bidding club legend Jonas Hector and long-serving goalkeeper Timo Horn farewell, head coach Steffen Baumgart has already said there'll be "no room" for complacency or sentimentality. Hector would be guaranteed to captain the side regardless, as he prepares to bring the curtain down on a 13-year stint at the club, but Horn has long fallen behind Marvin Schwäbe in the pecking order and, as Baumgart confirmed, would only play a part if the title is no longer on the line. 


There will be at least one enforced change to the team that drew 1-1 at Werder Bremen on the penultimate weekend, though. Steffen Tigges has been ruled out after opening the scoring and then going off injured in that game, so Davie Selke - with four goals in his last five outings - should be recalled as the lone striker. The Billy Goats, who could climb a place to ninth with a win, have only lost one of their last eight and held Bayern to a 1-1 draw in Munich earlier this year.


Bayern have been table leaders on 22 of the 33 matchdays so far, but go into the final weekend of the 2023/23 season in second place. Defeat to RB Leipzig coupled with Dortmund's win in Augsburg means they have two points to make up, and only 90 minutes to get the win they need to be in with a chance of lifting the title for the 11th season in a row. If Dortmund win, the streak will be over - but if Bayern keep up their end of the bargain and BVB stumble, the Meisterschale will stay in Munich. 


Thomas Tuchel recalled central midfielder Leon Goretzka for the 3-1 loss to Leipzig, but is expected to go all-out attack in the Cathedral City. With Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting still carrying a knock, Leroy Sane should be the man to come in alongside Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and the Bundesliga's record title-winner, Thomas Müller. Like Manuel Neuer and Alphonso Davies, Lucas Hernandez is training again following injury, but still some way off match fitness.


Match stats


Hector has made 346 competitive appearances for Cologne, including 227 in the Bundesliga.


Selke put away a penalty in a 3-2 loss to Bayern in the colours of former club Hertha Berlin earlier this term. He can now become the first player to score against the defending champions for two different clubs in a single season.


Cologne are winless in their last 17 meetings with Bayern (D2, L15), since recording a 3-2 victory over the record champions on 5 February 2011.


Gnabry has scored in four straight games to take his tally to a career-best-equalling 14 single-season Bundesliga goals. He has registered 11 goals in 10 previous meetings with Cologne.


Bayern have regained top spot on the final day twice before, overtaking Bremen in 1985/86 and Bayer Leverkusen in 1999/00 (both times on goal difference).


The Bavarians have dropped points from a winning position eight times this season (D5, L3). It's their biggest concession of points (19) when leading games since 1991/92's 10th-placed finish.

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