GNABRY FUELS BAYERN'S COMEBACK WIN IN COLOGNE

BERLIN, Jan 15 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich came from behind to win 3-1 at Cologne in the Bundesliga on Wednesday to conclude a historic first half of the season, Xinhua reported.

The host nearly took an early lead when Said El Mala broke through inside two minutes, forcing goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into a sharp save.

Play was then halted for almost ten minutes due to heavy smoke from pyrotechnics, disrupting the rhythm but not Cologne's resolve.

The home side continued to press aggressively, and was rewarded shortly before the interval when a swift counterattack ended with Linton Maina unleashing a 16-metre shot in the 41st minute that Neuer was unable to keep out.

Bayern began to grow into the contest, with Hiroki Ito, Michael Olise, and Serge Gnabry all denied by goalkeeper Marvin Schwabe.

Deep into an extended first-half stoppage time, the defending champion finally drew level, with Gnabry latching onto a tight-angle opportunity and lifting a bouncing effort over Schwabe.

The visitor dominated possession after the break but initially struggled to break Cologne's disciplined defense. The turning point arrived in the 71st minute when Kim Min-jae finished from close range from a rehearsed corner routine to put Bayern ahead.

Cologne pushed forward in search of an equaliser but left space behind, and Bayern struck again six minutes from time when substitute Lennart Karl calmly slotted home from Luis Diaz's cut-back.

The victory confirms Bayern's leading position at the halfway stage with a record 47 points and a goal difference of 66-13, marking the best-ever first half of a Bundesliga season, while Cologne ranks 12th.

Elsewhere, RB Leipzig stayed third after beating Freiburg 2-0, Andrej Kramaric's hat-trick helped Hoffenheim rout Borussia Monchengladbach 5-1, and Wolfsburg claimed vital points in its relegation battle with a 2-1 win over St Pauli. 

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA

TAGS: football, bundesliga, bayern munich, cologne

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