Bayern back on top with victory in Wolfsburg

FC Bayern beat VfL Wolfsburg 4-2 on Sunday for their first Bundesliga win of 2023 that takes them back to the top of the Bundesliga table after Union Berlin had overtaken them the previous day. Two-goal Kingsley Coman and Thomas Müller handed Bayern a three-goal lead, Jakub Kaminski pulling one back shortly before half-time. Joshua Kimmich was sent off early in the second half but the men in red scored again through Jamal Musiala. Wolfsburg's Matthias Svanberg sealed the final scoreline.

The Bavarians lined up with Yann Sommer in goal and João Cancelo, Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Musiala and Coman, with Müller up front. Serge Gnabry, Josip Stanišić, Mathys Tel, Daley Blind and Paul Wanner took over from Coman, Sané, Müller, Cancelo and Musiala in the second half.

Reds roar out of the blocks

The 30,000 full house in Wolfsburg saw Bayern make a blistering start, with Coman handing them an early lead when his cross evaded both Müller and keeper Koen Casteels but found the net. Paulo Otavio almost levelled but Munich soon doubled the lead when Cancelo's fine cross found Coman, who volleyed home to round off his brace inside 14 minutes.

Müller rose high to meet a Kimmich free-kick and powered a header past Casteels for the third with only 19 minutes on the clock. The hosts were reeling, and Goretzka fired over before Coman saw a shot blocked. Bayern shifted down a gear now, patiently dominating possession. Sommer denied Svanberg before Coman fired wide. Wolfsburg pulled one back with the half-time whistle imminent as half-hour substitute Kaminski slotted past Sommer.

Decimated but victorious

The hosts came out with far more energy after half-time, Davies making a crucial block against Micky van de Ven before Svanberg fired over. Nagelsmann's men were reduced to ten when Kimmich was sent off for a second bookable offence after a challenge on Maximilian Arnold. Bayern set out their stall to protect the lead now as Sommer snaffled a Ridle Baku header.

Tel saw a shot deflected behind as Bayern upped the ante again, and Musiala all but settled the matter when he shone with a mazy solo dribble, wriggling his way past a number of defenders before beating Casteels. Wolfsburg scored when Svanberg made the most of a loose ball, and they soon netted again through Yannick Gerhardt but the goal was chalked off for a foul. A deflected Svanberg effort forced Sommer into a fine save with his legs as Bayern wrapped up a crucial victory.

The result takes Bayern onto 40 points from 19 matches, one clear of Union. The champions will be back in action on Saturday when they entertain Bochum in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen