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
https://arab.news/cu6x3
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
Rabiot double lifts Milan after early scare at Como
- Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points
COMO, Italy: AC Milan came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory at Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot scoring twice to keep the away side in the Serie A title race.
Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points.
Como made the brighter start and took the lead after 10 minutes when Marc-Oliver Kempf rose to head home a corner.
Despite the hosts controlling much of the first half, Milan struck in stoppage time as Christopher Nkunku calmly converted from the penalty spot after Kempf was penalized for pushing Rabiot.
Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a series of strong saves to keep Como at bay after the break before Milan took the lead in the 55th minute when Rabiot knocked the ball in from close range.
Como were denied an equalizer as Nico Paz saw his effort from outside the box crash against the crossbar. Milan then sealed the win two minutes from time when Rabiot caught the Como defense off guard with a low strike from distance that crept into the bottom corner.
“This was a team victory, we showed our mentality,” Rabiot told DAZN after being named Man of the Match.
“We suffered a lot in the first half, but we talked during the break, came out with a different mentality, we all came out fighting for the three points.
“We gave something extra and I am very happy to score two goals, obviously, but above all I’m pleased with the mentality of the team.”
While Rabiot provided the goals, another Frenchman, goalkeeper Maignan, made his mark with a string of crucial saves.
“We knew that playing here would be difficult, we were well-prepared. We started a little sluggish and they scored, but we managed to keep the game open, and then all together started to play as a team,” Maignan said.
“We know these are great nights for Milan with an atmosphere like this. We suffered, we used up a lot of energy and left it all on the field.”
