Date: Saturday
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
Match Preview:
Bayern Munich, managed by Vincent Kompany, continue their dominant Bundesliga form, sitting at the top of the table with 42 points. In their last match, they smashed Hoffenheim 5-0, maintaining a four-point lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Their attacking prowess has been exceptional this season, scoring 53 goals in just 17 games. Defensively, they’ve been solid, with 9 clean sheets so far. Bayern's record against Wolfsburg has been formidable, with 19 wins in their last 21 encounters, including a 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture this season.
Wolfsburg, under Ralph Hasenhuttl, are in seventh place with 27 points. They secured a strong 5-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in their last match. Wolfsburg have been impressive in recent weeks, winning seven of their past nine games, and they are only three points off the Champions League spots. On the road, they have been solid, with six wins, one draw, and two losses in their nine away games this season.
Team News:
Bayern Munich:
Bayern will miss goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and defenders Hiroki Ito, Sacha Boey, and Josip Stanisic, although the latter could return soon. Midfielder Joao Palhinha will be sidelined until early February. The team is expected to field their usual backline: Guerreiro, Dier, Upamecano, and Davies, with Kimmich and Pavlovic in midfield.
Wolfsburg:
Wolfsburg will be without forwards Jakub Kaminski and Bartosz Bialek until late January. Defender Rogerio and goalkeeper Niklas Klinger are also unavailable. The expected lineup for Wolfsburg includes Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, and Maehle in defense, with Arnold and Dardai likely to play in central midfield.
Predicted Lineups:
Bayern Munich:
Neuer; Guerreiro, Dier, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Sane, Muller, Coman; Kane
Wolfsburg:
Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Gerhardt, Arnold, Dardai, Kaminski; Wind, Amoura
Prediction:
Bayern Munich 2-2 Wolfsburg
While Bayern's attacking force is likely to create plenty of chances, Wolfsburg's counter-attacking style could cause them some problems, especially in the absence of Palhinha in midfield. However, Bayern's dominance at home and overall quality make them favorites to secure at least a point in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
