#1-fc-koln

#1-fc-koln

Bayern Munich is officially off to the best start in European history. After 13 consecutive wins, each upcoming match will become tenser as the streak becomes a target for opponents. Since winning consecutive DFB-Pokal titles in 2019 and 2020, Bayern has gone 2-3 in the second round of the domestic knockout tournament. In recent years, Bayern has held a dominant advantage over Köln, winning 18 of the last 20 encounters. The other two matches ended in 1-1 draws.

In the 82nd minute against Borussia Dortmund, Timo Hübers fell to the ground clutching his knee. The FC defender had to be brought off on a stretcher, with the pictures on TV heightening the early fears. After full-time, the 29-year-old was brought to the MediaPark Klinik in Köln via ambulance. On Sunday morning, he underwent an MRI scan which confirmed a severe knee injury.

Bayern produced a top performance last weekend to b eat Wolfsburg 3-1 away from home. Klara Bühl, Momoko Tanikawa and Alara Şehitler got the goals to send the defending champions clear at the top of the table. The Munich Frauen also chalked up an important win during the week as they got their first Champions League points of the season with a 2-1 victory at home to Juventus. Lea Schüller came off the bench to score the winner deep into added time.

The star of Said El Mala has risen fast. He broke into 3. Liga side Viktoria Köln's first team within months of joining the club as a youth prospect and was snapped up by 1. FC Köln just several months after that. Loaned back to his former side, El Mala enjoyed his first and only full season at Viktoria and used that one season to turn heads and catch the attention of a lot of scouts.

It was an afternoon that was supposed to be about VfL Wolfsburg as the club celebrated their 80th birthday with as much flourish as this industrial corner of Lower Saxony could muster, with billowing clouds of green and white smoke accompanying club legends including 2009 champion Grafite and iconic defender Naldo leading the team on to the pitch in front of a (rare) sold-out crowd.