The Bundesliga season is winding down, and Bayern Munich are ready to close out their campaign in style. After a rollercoaster 2025/26 season that saw them lift two trophies out of a possible four, the Bavarians are set to host FC Köln in their final league match. Expect the Allianz Arena to be buzzing with anticipation—not just for the game, but for the traditional beer showers that follow. The men’s and women’s teams will celebrate their Bundesliga triumphs together at Marienplatz the next day.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 PM local time (9:30 AM EST / 6:30 AM PST). Here’s a look at how Vincent Kompany might line up his squad for this season finale.
A win here would push Bayern to 89 points for the season—the third-highest tally since the 2012/13 campaign (91 points) and just behind 2013/14 (90 points). That’s a statement finish for a team that’s already beaten Köln twice this season: a 4-1 victory in the DFB-Pokal Second Round and a 3-1 win in the league.
Keep an eye on the bench, too. If Bayern hands a debut to an academy player, he’d become the 11th teenager to feature for the club in the league this season. That would tie a record shared with Schalke’s 1980/81 squad—a testament to Bayern’s commitment to youth development.
On the other side, Köln are fighting to end a tough season on a high note. Sitting in 14th place with 32 points after 33 matchdays, they’re on pace for the lowest points tally for a 14th-placed team since Bochum in 2008/09. A loss here would lock in that dubious distinction, joining St. Pauli (2024/25) and Bochum as the lowest-ever 14th-place finishers. To put it in perspective: in eight of the last 11 Bundesliga seasons, 32 points would mean relegation or a playoff spot.
The Billy Goats haven’t found much joy lately. Their last win came against Werder Bremen in mid-April, and their only other victories this calendar year were in January against Mainz and Wolfsburg. To make matters worse, Köln haven’t beaten Bayern in over 15 years—the last time they took all three points was February 2011.
History favors Bayern in this matchup, too. The biggest win in this fixture belongs to the Bavarians: an 8-0 thrashing in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals back in 2002/03. Köln’s best effort was a 6-1 victory in the 1965-66 Bundesliga season.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-1 FC Köln. The champions are ready to close out with a bang.