Lewandowski and Coutinho fire Bayern past Cologne

Bayern Munich 4-0 Cologne
Goals: 1-0 Lewandowski (3’), 2-0 Lewandowski (48’), 3-0 Coutinho (62'), 4-0 Perisic (73')
Red card: Ehizibue (60’)

Bayern took just two and a half minutes to go in front with Joshua Kimmich breaking from midfield and freeing Lewandowski through on goal for the Pole to routinely slot home his eighth goal of the season. Coutinho was first denied a maiden Bundesliga goal moments later, his superb free-kick striking the upright as Die Bayern dominated early on. But the visitors grew into the game as the half wore on and closed out the first 45 minutes camped in Bayern's half. Jhon Cordoba came close to equalising on the stroke of half-time but could only fire wide of Manuel Neuer's goal before the Billy Goats were given a stark reminder of the hosts' potent attacking threat at the other end as Lewandowski came inches from doubling his side’s lead.

The 30-year-old wasted no time making up for that rare miss, Lewandowski rising to head home Kimmich’s corner just three minutes after the restart. And Bayern had a third on the hour mark as Coutinho first won and then converted a penalty to open his account for the club. The Brazilian was brought down in the box by Kingsley Ehizibue - who saw red for his foul - and twice fired past Timo Horn after his first effort was ordered to be retaken due to encroachment in the box from his teammates. Coutinho then turned provider for Ivan Perisic as the Croatian superbly fired beyond Horn to send the reigning champions top for the time being. The result is Cologne's fourth defeat from five matches this season and sees Achim Beierlorzer's side slip to 16th in the table.

• Lewandowski is the first Bayern player since Carsten Jancker in the 2000/01 campaign to find the target in each of the first five games of a Bundesliga season.
• The Poland captain now has 202 goals for Bayern Munich from just 250 appearances in all competitions.
• Bayern have won nine of their last 10 Bundesliga matches against Cologne.
• Kimmich - who played under Cologne coach Achim Beierlorzer at RB Leipzig – has covered a league-high 37.2 miles this season.
• Despite not scoring here, Serge Gnabry has scored four goals in his four league games against Cologne.
• Cologne are still the only team in the Bundesliga against whom Bayern have won fewer than 50 per cent of their meetings.

Line-ups

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Süle, Boateng (Martinez 59'), Hernandez – Kimmich (Cuisance 72'), Tolisso – Gnabry, Coutinho, Perisic – Lewandowski (Müller 71')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Thiago, Davies, Coman, Mai, Zirkzee
Out: Alaba (groin), Goretzka (thigh)
Coach: Niko Kovac

Cologne: Horn – Ehizibue, Bornauw, Czichos, Hector (c) – Schindler, Skhiri, Höger (Bader 79'), Drexler, Kainz (Mere 64') – Cordoba (Terodde 71')
Unused subs: Kessler, Sobiech, Risse, Schaub, Modeste, Hauptmann
Out: Clemens (cruciate ligament), Verstraete (meniscus)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer

Watch: Coutinho: "I already thanked Lewandowski"