What Baumgart fears ahead of Cologne's Bayern game

Steffen Baumgart, Cologne's coach, isn't sweating damage control against Bayern this Friday - not when they've historically held their ground. Yet, one persistent worry nags at him, a concern rooted in their past encounters: the Bavarians in overdrive at the very last minute.

"We've always come out on top against Bayern in recent matches," Baumgart remarks, "and still, we've conceded during the last two or three minutes. That's just the way it is. I've personally lost numerous games in the final stretch against them."

And the statistics don't lie. Last season alone, Musiala sealed the showdown in Cologne with an 89th-minute masterstroke, propelling Munich to the championship. Before that, Bayern managed to secure a 1-1 draw against FC with Kimmich's late goal in Munich. Baumgart's tactical prowess backfired as he lost four of his six matches against Bayern by a single goal margin, the decisive blows always delivered in the last breaths of the game.

Why, you might ask? Because Bayern thrives on the final sprint, scoring a whopping 11 goals in the last 15 minutes of matches, leading the league in this category. Baumgart acknowledges the challenge, admitting that training is of little avail. "You can't prepare for Bayern. What are you supposed to do?"

With no option but to confront Bayern's late-game menace head-on, Baumgart warns against focusing on the goal difference, even if a score of 0-2 against the champions feels swell. "It's not about the goal difference. A 0-2 loss is still a loss, no matter the opponent. We aren't fighting for an impressive scoreline, but for the win. We need to pick up points at home and do so with our strengths."

In the end, Baumgart's strategy is clear: push the pedal to the metal until the very last second. Fold to the final-minute Bavarians, and failure is imminent. With loyalty to his tactics and a steadfast faith in his team's ability, Baumgart marches into the fray armed with an unyielding determination that leaves little room for regret.