The second half of the season for Bayern Munich began on Sunday with a home clash against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. After ending 2025 on a high, Bayern started the new year in the best possible way by scoring eight goals past Wolfsburg.
Die Roten had some notable absentees for the game against Wolfsburg. With Joshua Kimmich out due to an ankle injury, Vincent Kompany went ahead with a midfield pairing of Aleksandar Pavlovic and Tom Bischof. Meanwhile, Lennart Karl continues to start games as he played behind Harry Kane in the attack.
The hosts started the game on the front foot, creating chances at will in the early exchanges of the game. Bayern got the early lead through a lovely move on the left flank in the fifth minute. Josip Stanisic played a precise through pass to find the run of Luis Diaz. The Colombian had squared the ball after reaching the byline to fine Michael Olise, but Kilian Fischer ended up bundling the ball into his own net as he tried to stop Olise from getting the final touch.
Bayern were deservedly ahead, but the visitors didn’t take long to respond to the early setback. Wolfsburg stitched a fast move in the attack to equalise in the 13th minute. A slip from Konrad Laimer allowed Lovro Majer to play a through pass to find the run of Dzenan Pejcinovic in the box. The German forward made no mistake in putting the ball past Manuel Neuer.
After conceding the equalizer, Die Roten got hold of possession and didn’t allow Wolfsburg to create chances. The visitors also sat deep, giving Bayern very little space in the final third. Michael Olise came up with a superb cross to break Die Roten’s defense by delivering a strong cross at the far post. Diaz managed to beat his marker and head the goal past the goalkeeper to restore Bayern’s lead.
The defending champions continued to create chances until the half-time whistle, but Kamil Grabara ensured Wolfsburg were not completely out of the game going into the break.
Bayern go for the kill in the second half
The second half saw Bayern showing no mercy in the final third. Wolfsburg were struggling to cope with waves of attack from Die Roten. Olise doubled Bayern’s lead in the 50th minute with a terrific curling effort from the right flank. He came inside on his stronger left foot and deposited the ball at the far post.
Olise’s goal opened the floodgates for Die Roten. Two minutes later, Bayern went ahead 4-1 courtesy of an own goal from Moritz Jenz. However, this move was all about Kane’s brilliant long pass from deep to find the run of Olise. The Frenchman had squared the ball for Diaz, but his pass was poked into the goal by Jenz.
Post the hour mark, Bayern continued to make merry as Raphael Guerreiro scored the fifth goal. A quick freekick saw Kane with the ball behind Wolfsburg’s defense. The English forward squared the ball for Guerreiro, who calmly deposited the ball in the net. Kane also found the net a few minutes later with a curling shot from the outside of the box. It was probably the best goal of the game.
Wolfsburg were all over the place defensively as the game went on. Diaz and Olise dovetailed brilliantly to score Die Roten’s seventh goal in the 76th minute. The Colombian played a precise through ball to find the run of Olise in the box. The French forward calmly slotted the ball in the net to get his second goal of the game.
Leon Goretzka rounded off an incredible evening by scoring Bayern’s eighth goal in the 88th minute. Jonathan Tah found the run of Goretzka in the box with a precise pass. The German midfielder poked the ball from a tight angle to beat the goalkeeper.
Wolfsburg had no answer to Die Roten’s attacking prowess on Sunday. It is exciting times for the Bavarian faithful as Jamal Musiala will soon join the squad after a long injury layoff.