Philippe Coutinho versus Köln: The Maestro massacres another for Bayern München

After the day Bayern München had in the Champions League against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, more could be expected from Coutinho and club.

For their Bundesliga match on Saturday, a visiting Köln stood in Die Roten’s way; perhaps only technically if not practically. Philippe Coutinho: Maestro of München orchestrated this match with even greater mastery than in his previous appearance.

Joshua Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski bossed the first 48’ of the match utterly and ruthlessly. Just three minutes into the match, Kimmich connected with Lewy for a low shot that deflected into goal. When Bayern get going with speed and volition, they are nearly impossible to stop; Lewandowski in particular is a problem when allowed to feel comfortable early in a match.

The curled effort by Coutinho in the 14’ off of a free kick hit the post after beating the keeper and wall. His ambition for goal has been obvious over the last week and this continuation of that effort would be rewarded by the games end.

The pass by Coutinho in the 34’ to Ivan Perisic nearly resulted in the second score of the match. That the strike went shy to the near post is of little consequence; the obvious blossoming of Coutinho in Niko Kovac’s Bayern squad is of far greater significance than merely a single goal; against Köln such a misfire can be easily remedied.

The 48’ saw the second Kimmich-Lewandowski connection, this time a header saw the goalkeeper frozen in place. Scoring three minutes into the second half as they did the first is quirky sure, but telling as well. This is a Bayern squad that will jump on a team should they appear unfocused.

Coutinho would orchestrate the next two goals and assert his will over the matches end stage.

With the 59’ sending off of Kingsley Ehizibue with a red card, the München floodgates were truly opened. Coutinho’s ambition for goal had been noticed by all it would appear. When Corentin Tolisso chipped a beautiful ball into Philippe Coutinho, Ehizbue’s misguided physicality truly hurt his side.

The succeeding penalty, of which Coutinho would take in the 62’, was due reward for such hard work since arriving to southern Germany. His first goal would only breed greater ambition for the Brazilian number ten in the final third of the match.

Ivan Perisic’s early misfire would not haunt Die Roten. Coutinho would spread his creativity and expression to his Croatian teammate, just 11’ after netting his first München tally. His perfect pass to Perisic would be struck beautifully into the back of the net for the fourth goal of a 4-0 Bayern München throttling. The maestro was in full control of his orchestra on this evening.

Between threading passes to teammates across the front of his Bayern steamroller and adding his own attacking innovation alongside his talented teammates, integration appears to be happening in front of our eyes. Coutinho behind an attacking three is the number ten Bayern have needed; Thomas Müller serves another role and another purpose on the club.