Vincent Kompany's league leaders Bayern Munich are set to host Champions League hopefuls Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on Saturday in the Bundesliga.
Bayern have 42 points and maintained their four-point advantage on second-placed Bayer Leverkusen when the beat Hoffenheim 5-0 on Wednesday, while their opponents are seventh with 27 points after 17 matchweeks and defeated Borussia Monchengladbach 5-1 on Tuesday.
Match preview
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The Bavarians were utterly rampant on Wednesday, creating six big chances, producing 21 shots from inside the box and preventing Hoffenheim from generating more than two shots inside their own penalty area.
Bayern's win was the fourth time in their last six matches that they have scored at least four goals, taking their total number of Bundesliga goals to 53 in just 17 outings.
Kompany's side have also been exceptional defensively this campaign, keeping their opponents at bay in their two most recent matches and registering nine clean sheets in the league so far.
In the reverse fixture, Saturday's hosts emerged as 3-2 victors on August 25, and it should be noted that they have not lost in regular time against Wolfsburg since January 2015, winning 19 of their last 21 clashes.
Bayern have won their last three games by a cumulative score of 11-2 and in fact triumphed in 13 of their 17 most recent Bundesliga matches, losing just one match in that time.
The league leaders have also achieved victory in 14 of their last 17 home outings, winning eight of their last nine at Allianz Arena.
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Opponents Wolfsburg were only leading 1-0 against Borussia Monchengladbach by the half-time interval, but they produced four big chances and nearly three xG in a second-half rout.
Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl's side are just three points from fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, and his team need just 10 more points from 17 league games to equal their points tally from last season.
The Wolves' offensive displays in recent weeks have been impressive considering they have found the back of the net 21 times in their past seven matches.
Hasenhuttl's team come into the clash in fine form having triumphed in seven of their past nine fixtures.
The visitors' record on the road has also been strong given they have won six, drawn one and lost two of their nine away games in 2024-25.
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Team News
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Bayern will be without goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, as well as defenders Hiroki Ito, Sacha Boey and Josip Stanisic, though the latter could return to action in the coming days.
Kompany is likely to field the same defence that started against Hoffenheim, and this could mean that Raphael Guerreiro, Eric Dier, Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies retain their places in the XI in front of Manuel Neuer on the weekend.
Defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha is set to miss out on action until early February, so expect Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic to feature in a double pivot.
Wolfsburg will not be able to select forwards Jakub Kaminski or Bartosz Bialek until late January, so perhaps Mohamed El Amine Amoura will be supported by Jonas Wind in a front two.
Defender Rogerio and goalkeeper Niklas Klinger have been ruled out, and their absences could lead Hasenhuttl to start Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Joakim Maehle ahead of Kamil Grabara.
Maximilian Arnold and Bence Dardai are almost certain to appear in the centre of the pitch given midfielders Kevin Paredes and Lovro Majer are not available.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Guerreiro, Dier, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Sane, Muller, Coman; Kane
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Gerhardt, Arnold, Dardai, Kaminski; Wind, Amoura
We say: Bayern Munich 2-2 Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg will surrender possession and look to make the most of counter-attacks, and they could have some success considering the hosts will be without Palhinha in midfield.
However, it is difficult to see how the Wolves can keep Bayern at bay, and the Bavarians are likely to have numerous opportunities in the final third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
