The Bundesliga resumes its 2025/26 campaign today, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as league leaders Bayern Munich host VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena. Kick-off is set for 16:30 UTC (17:30 local time) in what promises to be a frigid evening in Munich.
Bayern enters the new year with an eight-point lead at the top of the table, looking to maintain the momentum of a historic 2025 where they broke the record for most points collected in a calendar year (87).
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 16)
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kick-off: 16:30 UTC / 17:30 local / 11:30 ET
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee: Tobias Reichel
Broadcast: ESPN+ (US), Sky Sport (Germany)
The Storyline: "Hinrundenmeister" Seeks Fast Start
Bayern Munich: The New Year Benchmark
Vincent Kompany’s side officially secured the unofficial title of Hinrundenmeister (champions at the halfway point) before the winter break. Their record so far is staggering: 13 wins, 2 draws, and 0 losses, with a goal difference of +44. After a 13-day break, the Bavarians warmed up for the restart with a convincing 5–0 friendly win over Red Bull Salzburg last week.
Wolfsburg: The Hunt for a Miracle
Wolfsburg, currently 14th in the table, faces the ultimate statistical "bogey team." The Wolves have never won a Bundesliga away match against Bayern Munich in 28 attempts (W0, D2, L26). Under new head coach Daniel Bauer, Wolfsburg has shown signs of stability, but they are dealing with a significant injury list and the absence of star forward Mohamed Amoura, who is away at AFCON.
Team News & Confirmed Lineups
Bayern Munich Team News
Return of the Captain: Vincent Kompany confirmed that Manuel Neuer is officially back from his hamstring injury and will start in goal.
Still Sidelined: Jamal Musiala is back in full training but this match comes "too soon" for his competitive return. Joshua Kimmich, Alphonso Davies, and Min-jae Kim are also out.
Confirmed XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanišić; Pavlovic, Goretzka; Olise, Gnabry, Díaz; Kane.
Wolfsburg Team News
Late Absences: Jenson Seelt is ruled out with the flu. Jonas Wind, Joakim Mæhle, and Andreas Skov Olsen remain sidelined with long-term issues.
Confirmed XI (3-4-2-1): Grabara; Kumbedi, Vavro, Koulierakis; Zehnter, Gerhardt, Arnold, Eriksen; Majer, Wimmer; Pejcinović.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Harry Kane's Pursuit: Kane enters the match with 19 league goals already this season. He brought up 100 Bundesliga goal involvements in just 78 matches—the fastest in history.
Unbeatable at Home: Bayern hasn't lost to Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena in over a decade; their last league defeat to the Wolves (home or away) was in 2015.
Scoring Machine: Bayern has scored 2+ goals in each of their last 23 Bundesliga matches, an all-time competition record.
Wolfsburg's Weakness: The Wolves have dropped a league-high 15 points from winning positions this season.
Tactical Analysis: High Line vs. Counter Threat
Kompany is expected to employ his signature high-intensity press, utilizing the pace of Luis Díaz and Michael Olise to stretch Wolfsburg’s back three. Wolfsburg will likely rely on the veteran vision of Christian Eriksen to find Dženan Pejcinović, who is in red-hot form after netting a hat-trick in his final game of 2025.
Match Prediction
While Wolfsburg has improved under Bauer, the absence of Musiala is mitigated by Bayern’s overwhelming depth. Given the historical dominance at the Allianz, a comfortable home win is the most likely outcome.
Final Score Prediction: Bayern Munich 3–1 Wolfsburg
