Bayern Munich continued their perfect start to the Bundesliga season with a 4-0 win over 1. FC Cologne. Their 10th straight victory to start the season is also their 1000th win in Bundesliga history. They are the first German team to reach that milestone.
After a disappointing Champions League match on Tuesday in London, manager Pep Guardiola fielded an aggressive lineup that featured Arjen Robben for the first time since August 29. Despite Cologne’s best efforts, Bayern were on the front foot from the start. An early chance from Thomas Müller was saved by Timo Horn. Bayern had some trouble breaking down the Cologne defense early, but it was Robben who made his way into the 18-yard box and patiently side stepped the keeper and scored after 36 minutes.
Bayern kept up the pressure after Robben’s opener. Robben, along with Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa, were causing Cologne problems with their movement around the outside of the box. Coman took advantage by rushing to the touch line and crossing the ball back to Arturo Vidal, who scored Bayern’s second in the 40th minute.
Half time couldn’t come fast enough for the visitors. Bayern led at the break by 2 goals for the first time this season. Cologne managed next to nothing going forward. They were content to let Bayern have the ball, but even then they were unable to catch Bayern on the counter at any point. The second half was much of the same. Bayern kept the ball and pressed Cologne high up the pitch. Lewandowski scored another goal on 61 minutes that put the game beyond doubt for Munich. Lewandowski also won a penalty about 15 minutes later, which Müller converted.
The game petered out from there as both sides were content to just play the game out. All around it was a good response from Bayern after their loss midweek. For Cologne it sees them drop down to 8th place, out of a a Europa League spot.
The records keep falling for this Bayern team. They become the first German team to win 1000 league games. They also take a step closer to Tottenham’s record of 11 straight league wins to start a season for Europe’s top 5 leagues. Both records speak to Bayern’s long term dominance in Germany. 1000 league wins is almost 250 more than Werder Bremen. It’s all the more remarkable when you consider that Bayern were not even in the Bundesliga’s inaugural season. Bayern fans at the Allianz Arena were treated to a special treat following the team’s historic win. Free Beer.
Free beer at the #AllianzArena! Cheers to that! #FCB1000 #FCBKOE pic.twitter.com/PSJr50usoQ
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) October 24, 2015
Bayern Munich knows that records like this mean little at the end of the season. Pep Guardiola would trade a record start for a record finish any day of the week. Bayern’s season will be judged by the trophies they win, not by the records they set early in the season. But the team will enjoy these moments as they come. Now Guardiola will turn his attention to Wolfsburg on Tuesday, and take the season as it comes. Meanwhile, the club will celebrate another record, something that seems to be happening on a weekly basis these days.
Talking point: Bayern is not the only one setting records today. Manuel Neuer recorded his 138th clean sheet of his Bundesliga career. This puts him in fifth place all time in the Bundesliga, one above Bayern Munich legend Sepp Maier. He’s still has a way to go to reach another Bayern Munich legend, Oliver Kahn, who had 196.
