BERLIN: Leaders Bayern Munich look set to stretch their unbeaten Bundesliga run into the new year when they host struggling VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday, with Vincent Kompany’s team sitting nine points clear at the top as the league resumes from the winter break.
The Bavarians went into the three-week pause in complete control on 41 points, with 13 wins and two draws from 15 league matches and a record-breaking goal difference of +44 goals.
Leading Bundesliga scorer Harry Kane has been in scintillating form with 19 league goals as he eyes the all-time league record of 41 goals in a season and what could be a record-extending third consecutive top scorer trophy in his third season in Germany.
With Luis Diaz adding another eight goals, few will be betting against Bayern earning all three points, with the Wolves having won just two of their last seven matches to sit in 14th place, three points above the relegation playoff spot.
Bayern have never lost in Munich against Wolfsburg in 28 league matches, having won 26 of them and drawn two.
“After the first few training sessions you could sense that the team is really hungry,” Kompany, who will be on the bench for his 50th Bundesliga game, said after Bayern’s 5-0 friendly win at RB Salzburg on Tuesday.
“We have a lot of motivation for what we want to achieve in 2026. We start off with three matches in a row in six days.” After Sunday’s match, Bayern travel to Cologne on Wednesday for midweek league action before visiting RB Leipzig at the weekend. “That is tough, especially coming straight out of the holidays,” Kompany said. “But the break was not too long and the lads are fit. If the squad gets out of this (three-match) phase well then we will be very strong for that phase of the season where everything is decided.”
Bayern are on course to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League and are also through to the German Cup quarter-finals where they will face Leipzig on February 11.
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund, on 32 points, travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday while Bayer Leverkusen, in third place on 29, host VfB Stuttgart. RB Leipzig, in fourth also on 29, take on St. Pauli.
Leaders Bayern look to power past Wolfsburg in busy start to new year
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Leaders Bayern look to power past Wolfsburg in busy start to new year
- The Bavarians went into the three-week pause in complete control on 41 points
- Leading Bundesliga scorer Harry Kane has been in scintillating form with 19 league goals
Newcastle pounce on PSV errors to boost Champions League last-16 bid
- Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes
- PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle climbed into position to reach the Champions League last 16 by punishing PSV Eindhoven’s defensive blunders for a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
Yoane Wissa, on his first Champions League start, and Anthony Gordon struck inside the opening half an hour after the Dutch champions played themselves into trouble.
Harvey Barnes rounded off the scoring for his fifth goal in as many games just after the hour mark.
“I thought it was one of our best individual performances from a lot of the players for a while,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes that forced the Brazilian off just before half-time.
Guimaraes could be a big miss for when Howe’s men make the daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain next week in the final round of league phase fixtures, hoping to secure a top-eight finish.
Newcastle sit in the top eight only on goal difference and will likely need to beat the holders on home soil to avoid the play-off round.
Wissa rewarded Howe’s faith for starting him ahead of Nick Woltemade up front with a goal and an assist on what the DR Congo international described as a “special night.”
Signed from Brentford in September, Wissa spent the majority of his career in the lower tiers of French and English football.
“Honestly, unbelievable. That’s why I joined the club... I almost cried,” said Wissa on hearing the Champions League anthem for the first time on the pitch.
“Very emotional. 29 years old, I never believed to be here and so now I’m enjoying every single minute.”
Wissa swept in his first goal in European competition from Joelinton’s pass after a poor clearance by PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table.
Peter Bosz’s men won 4-1 away at Liverpool and hit Napoli for six earlier in the league phase, but are still at risk of missing out on a place in the top 24, which would secure progress to the play-off round.
The visitors were architects of their own downfall again for the second when Yarek Gasiorowski’s underhit backpass allowed Wissa to square for Gordon to roll into an empty net.
The England international now has six goals in the Champions League this season, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in the battle to be the competition’s top goalscorer.
However, a fine half for the home side ended badly when Guimaraes needed lengthy treatment after colliding with Kovar at a corner and was eventually replaced.
Howe’s options in midfield and defense were already depleted by a lengthy injury list amid a gruelling schedule with Newcastle still alive in four competitions.
However, up front he is spoiled for choice with Barnes in fine form since the turn of the year.
The 28-year-old burst through the static PSV defense to fire in his 12th goal of the season 25 minutes from time.
Saudi-backed Newcastle are one of five Premier League teams among the top eight as it stands as the English sides flex their financial muscle in Europe’s elite competition.
But they will have to finish the job against another of the continent’s wealthiest clubs when they travel to Qatari-owned PSG, aiming to deny the holders direct qualification for the last 16.
