Bayern end the year with a win in Wolfsburg

FC Bayern beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 in the last match of the year on Wednesday. Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane netted for Bayern in the first half, Maximilian Arnold pulling one back for the hosts before half-time. With no more goals to come, Bayern claimed three points.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Aleksandar Pavlović and Raphaël Guerreiro anchored a midfield featuring Musiala, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané, with Kane up front. Matthijs de Ligt came on for Müller after the hour, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting replacing Musiala in the closing stages.

First-half dominance

Munich dominated from the off against the deep-lying hosts and Kim put a header over the bar before Kane saw an effort saved. Wolfsburg keeper Koen Casteels held a Sané free-kick and Müller saw a shot blocked. FCB almost capitalised on a mix-up in the box, Guerreiro firing just wide following Müller's cut-back.

Müller hit the post, but a goal was coming and duly arrived when an inch-perfect Müller cross on his left foot found Musiala, who powered a header past Casteels. Bayern soon doubled the lead as Kane curled into the top corner from 25 yards. The Wolves got one back against the run of play with the half-time whistle imminent, Arnold finding the near corner of the net from distance.

A nervous second half

It was a different affair after the restart, with Bayern sitting deeper and clear-cut chances few and far between at first. Neuer denied substitute Rogério as Munich were solid at the back but struggled with stray passing in attack.

Guerreiro saw an effort blocked and Davies fired over, Casteels saving another Sané free-kick. Kane saw an effort saved, but the assistant's flag was up in any case as Bayern slowly but surely reasserted their dominance. Pavlović miscued and Laimer saw an effort blocked, but Bayern sealed a narrow but merited victory before the winter break.

The result means Bayern have 38 points from 15 matches, four short of Bayer Leverkusen but with a game in hand. The German record champions take on Basel in a friendly on 6 January and return to competitive action on 12 January when they entertain Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen