Bayern Munich could see their historic 11-year hold on the Bundesliga title come to an end when they take on relegation candidates FC Koln on Saturday afternoon.
The travelling fans will also be under pressure this weekend with their side running out of time to accumulate points to secure their status in the top flight.
Match preview
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Following Bayern Munich's 3-2 defeat against Heidenheim in gameweek 28, the gap to the top of the table widened to 16 points. Stuttgart secured a victory in Dortmund thereafter and, with that, drew level with the Bavarians on 60 points.
Champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen's recent 1-0 victory over Union Berlin brought their points tally to 76, which is the second-highest ever at this stage of a Bundesliga season, just two fewer than the 78 points achieved by Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich side in the 2013-14 season.
While the gap to the top spot is mathematically bridgeable with six remaining games in the season, it would require nothing less than a miraculous turn of events for either Bayern or Stuttgart to overtake Die Werkself. Leverkusen require just two points from their remaining matches to secure the league title, and they could even clinch it without stepping onto the field this weekend if Bayern lose this match and Stuttgart lose to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel's side did receive a boost of confidence in midweek when they managed a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium. Harry Kane emerged as the Gunners' tormentor yet again, scoring the second of Bayern's goals on the night from the penalty spot.
The Bavarians will now look to keep the title race alive, even if it is only for one more day, by beating Koln, who they have not lost to in 19 consecutive encounters - a record unbeaten streak against any current Bundesliga club for FC Bayern.
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For Koln, that 19-match winless streak (W0 D2 L17) leading up to this one against Bayern is their longest ongoing stretch without a win against any top-flight opponent and they would likely love nothing more than to bring that run to an end here, and officially end the Bavarians dwindling title hopes in the process.
However, heading into this weekend, they occupy the second-to-last position in the league standings, having only secured four wins in their 28 matches this season, but a win at the Allianz Arena could propel them into the relegation playoff position.
The most recent of those four wins came in their last match when Felix Passlack provided an early lead for Bochum in the second half. However, goals from Steffan Tigges and Luca Walschmidt after the 90th minute secured a comeback victory for the Billy Goats and kept them just one point behind Mainz in 16th place.
Koln have struggled offensively, currently the lowest-scoring side in the league with 23 goals in 28 games, but they have been fairly solid defensively, conceding 49 goals, which is fewer than the likes of top-half rivals Augsburg and Hoffenheim have shipped this term.
Timo Schultz's side have drawn each of their last five away league games, four of which ended in a 1-1 scoreline, while their only victory in 14 matches on the road this season came at the start of December last year against basement club Darmstadt.
Team News
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After scoring the equaliser for Bayern in midweek and being forced off in the 70th minute, the Bavarians confirmed that Serge Gnabry had strained his left hamstring and is now set for a spell on the sidelines.
Kingsley Coman is the most likely to step into the starting 11 in place of Gnabry, who will join the likes of Tarek Buchmann, Bouna Sarr, Gabriel Marusic and Sacha Boey on the treatment table.
Skipper Manuel Neuer returned to goal against the Gunners after missing the previous two outings and should keep his place between the sticks, while Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano are expected to make up the central defensive pairing in place of Eric Dier and Matthijs de Ligt.
Eric Martel was shown his fifth yellow card of the season in Koln's 2-1 win against Bochum last week and will serve his one-match suspension this weekend in Bavaria.
Schultz is also set to remain without several players due to injury, including Davie Selke (ankle), Luca Kilian (ACL), Florian Dietz (shoulder), Justin Diehl (hip) and Mark Uth (knock), while Elias Bakatukanda is flagged as a doubt.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Laimer, Goretzka, Musiala, Muller, Sane; Kane
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Schwabe; Thielmann, Hubers, Chabot, Finkgrafe; Maina, Huseinbasic, Ljubicic, Kainz; Waldschmidt, Adamyan
We say: Bayern Munich 3-1 FC Koln
While Koln have been very poor this season, they have been difficult to beat on the road recently and should find the net in this one. The Bavarians are likely to see their hold on the Bundesliga Meisterschale come to an end this weekend, but we feel that they will win this match comfortably and force Die Werkself to beat Werder Bremen on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
