Cologne vs. Bayern: Urbig in goal – will the DFB Cup be a triumph?

Cologne vs. Bayern: Urbig in goal – will the DFB Cup be a triumph?

On Wednesday evening, October 29, 2025, at 8:45 p.m., two well-known names in German football will meet in the RheinEnergieStadion: FC Bayern Munich and 1. FC Köln. The eagerly awaited DFB Cup duel will be broadcast live on Erste and promises lots of action.

Jonas Urbig, a 22-year-old goalkeeper, will be between the posts for Bayern. Urbig has had a long journey after training in Euskirchen and previously playing at 1. FC Köln, where he gained his first experience in 11 competitive games. Urbig had hoped for the position as regular goalkeeper in the summer of 2024, but Marvin Schwäbe stayed at the club and took over. Urbig then moved to Bayern to grow in the shadow of the outstanding Manuel Neuer. Unfortunately, Neuer, who is suspended for the cup game, is not there and may not be eligible to play again until the round of 16. Urbig is all the more excited about the support of his friends and family, who want to come to the game in droves to cheer him on.

Cologne looking for a surprise victory

1. FC Köln has currently achieved a solid 8th place in the Bundesliga and has done well with 11 points from 8 games after being promoted from the second division. However, last weekend they suffered a devastating 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund when Maximilian Beier scored the winning goal in stoppage time. Coach Lukas Kwasniok is aware of the challenge against Bayern, but knows that anything is possible in the cup, especially when the game starts at 0-0.

Ron-Robert Zieler will be in goal for the guests. The experienced keeper takes on the role while Timo Hübers is out due to an injury. Other players such as Luca Kilian and Jan Thielmann are also not available to Cologne. Kwasniok praised both Zieler and Schwäbe, emphasizing that they are resilient individuals who can shine in such high-pressure situations.

Bayern: The hunt for the cup

Bayern, on the other hand, have won all 13 games this season and lead the Bundesliga by 5 points over RB Leipzig. After a clear 3-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach, they are hungry for the title. However, there are nerves because the Munich team has not won a DFB Cup for five years and had to bow out in the round of 16 last season. Sports director Christoph Freund emphasizes the team's insatiable hunger to come back to Berlin.

Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito and Jamal Musiala are missing from Bayern's ranks, but the team remains strong and talented. Coach Vincent Kompany could make some changes to the lineup to rest the players, as there are also important games against Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain coming up.

A look at the specifications of both teams

Here is an overview of the possible setups:

The encounter can hardly be more eagerly awaited. Cologne may take on the role of outsider, but in the cup it is often said: anything can happen. Now it remains to be seen whether FC Bayern can live up to their status as favorites or whether the Cologne team can cause a surprise and take advantage of the big football stage in the DFB Cup. The spectacle begins with kick-off time at 8:45 p.m. - you shouldn't miss it!

Details about the game can be found in the reports from Sports show and Yahoo Sports.