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
Late Nandez winner keeps Al-Qadsiah’s title hopes alive
- Al-Qadsiah move to 47 points, 3 behind leaders Al-Hilal, who are yet to play on Matchday 22
- Al-Taawoun fairytale run loses steam as Pericles Chamusca’s side continue difficult spell
RIYADH: All signs pointed to an unlikely title charge for Al-Qadsiah when they held Al-Hilal to a 2-2 draw in Dammam at the end of January.
Since then, it has been a testing period for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
While they remain unbeaten under the Northern Irishman, Al-Qadsiah have struggled to replicate their earlier intensity as fatigue begins to take its toll.
Despite those challenges, Al-Qadsiah have collected seven points from their last nine, with a dramatic late winner from Nahitan Nandez securing a valuable 1-0 victory over a resilient NEOM side. The road to those three points was anything but easy.
Al-Qadsiah should have been ahead inside three minutes. A high press initiated by Julian Quinones and Mateo Retegui forced NEOM goalkeeper Luis Maximiano into a costly error, with his attempted clearance falling straight to the Italian. The 2024/25 Serie A top scorer struck the post with the goal at his mercy, allowing NEOM to breathe a sigh of relief.
What followed was a tactical battle between Rodgers and Christophe Galtier.
The hosts made a few changes from their previous outing, with Nandez occupying the right flank instead of Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, while Ali Hazazi slotted into midfield.
NEOM mirrored the system, with their wingers tracking Nandez and Christopher Bonsu Baah as they dropped into a 5-4-1 defensive shape. Faris Abdi was a key outlet for the visitors, surging down the left flank on multiple occasions to support Luciano Rodriguez and Alexandre Lacazette.
It was Rodriguez and Lacazette who fashioned NEOM’s most dangerous chances of the night.
In the 38th minute, Koen Casteels denied Rodriguez with a powerful save. Minutes later, a cutback found Lacazette inside the box, but Casteels was again equal to the effort.
The Belgian emerged as the standout performer, making seven saves to keep Al-Qadsiah in contention. His efforts almost went unrewarded, however, as Retegui failed to convert further chances and Quinones endured his first game in 10 without a goal contribution.
Al-Qadsiah eventually grabbed the winner in the dying moments when a cross from Bonsu Baah was flicked on by new signing Waleed Al-Ahmed into the path of Nandez. The Uruguayan powered home what could prove to be the most valuable goal of the season, keeping Al-Qadsiah firmly in the title hunt.
Elsewhere, Damac enjoyed a perfect start under new manager Fabio Carille, as the Knights from the South secured their second win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Al-Taawoun.
Yakou Meite scored twice to give Damac their first win since late December, while Al-Taawoun drifted further from the top four after another match without victory.
The result moves Damac three points clear of Al-Riyadh in 16th place, easing immediate relegation concerns.
Meanwhile, Omar Al-Somah continued his pursuit of the all-time Saudi Pro League scoring record with a late winner for Al-Hazem. The hosts defeated Al-Okhdood 2-1 to climb temporarily into 11th, 12 points clear of the drop zone.
Saudi Pro League action returns on Friday, with Al-Shabab hosting Al-Ahli in Riyadh, Al-Hilal welcoming Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad facing Al-Fayha to close out the day’s action.
