Bundesliga
FC Cologne vs Bayern Munich
10:30 ET
Markus Gisdol's side have edged to within a point of escaping the relegation zone, which they have occupied since the second week of the season, after a respectable 1-1 draw at the in-form Stuttgart last weekend.
The 51-year-old was left exasperated when Orel Mangala gave the hosts the lead after less than 30 seconds with a superb strike from outside the area, with Stuttgart smashing the bar just minutes later as they threatened to take the game away from Koln. However, Gisdol's team fought back bravely, with Sebastian Andersson cannily getting the wrong side of his opposing centre-back to win a penalty before coolly converting from twelve yards for his second of the season.
Having signed from Union Berlin in the summer after scoring 12 goals in the Bundesliga last season, Andersson will be hoping to kick on now and fire his side up the table.
Gisdol may have felt his side did enough to win, but avoiding defeat for a second successive match is certainly no bad thing given their current predicament. He will be under no illusions about his side's chances against Bayern, though; avoiding conceding four goals in defeat, which was the outcome in both meetings last season, will be the primary aim of the match for his side.
The 51-year-old was left exasperated when Orel Mangala gave the hosts the lead after less than 30 seconds with a superb strike from outside the area, with Stuttgart smashing the bar just minutes later as they threatened to take the game away from Koln. However, Gisdol's team fought back bravely, with Sebastian Andersson cannily getting the wrong side of his opposing centre-back to win a penalty before coolly converting from twelve yards for his second of the season.
Having signed from Union Berlin in the summer after scoring 12 goals in the Bundesliga last season, Andersson will be hoping to kick on now and fire his side up the table.
Gisdol may have felt his side did enough to win, but avoiding defeat for a second successive match is certainly no bad thing given their current predicament. He will be under no illusions about his side's chances against Bayern, though; avoiding conceding four goals in defeat, which was the outcome in both meetings last season, will be the primary aim of the match for his side.