The Albany Gazette - Mane scores again as Bayern dispatch third-tier German Cup opponents

Mane's goal, scored in the 53rd minute, was his fifth in six games this season since his summer arrival from Premier League side Liverpool.

Former Arsenal forward Serge Gnabry held up the ball, drawing in Cologne goalkeeper Ben Voll to find Mane unmarked in front of goal.

Two further summer arrivals in Ryan Gravenberch and 17-year-old starlet Mathys Tel both scored first-half goals, breaking down a stubborn but outgunned Cologne defence.

Teenager Jamal Musiala scored his side's fourth in the 67th minute just four minutes after replacing Mane from the bench, controlling a pass from Thomas Mueller from the penalty spot.

Bayern added a fifth through Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, playing his first game of the season after returning from a knee injury.

Bayern Munich, who meet Union Berlin in a top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash on Sunday, have now scored 26 goals in six matches since the departure of striker Robert Lewandowski.

Bayern have twice been eliminated in the early rounds from the German Cup over the past two seasons.

In the 2020-21 campaign the Bavarians lost on penalties to second-division Holstein Kiel in the second round of the Cup, while in the 2021-22 season the 20-time winners were ousted 5-0 at the hands of Borussia Moenchengladbach.

On Tuesday, current German Cup holders RB Leipzig thrashed fourth-division side Teutonia Ottensen 8-0 thanks to a hat-trick from former Chelsea striker Timo Werner.

(Y.Yildiz--BBZ)