Bayern's Kimmich still trying to overcome nagging ankle injury

Bayern Munich vice-captain Joshua Kimmich is expected to miss his side's clash with Wolfsburg on Sunday due to injury, as the Bundesliga resumes amid icy conditions across Germany. 

Vincent Kompany's side will be hoping to strengthen their nine-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga when they return from the winter break at home to Wolfsburg this weekend.  

Yet they will be without star midfielder Kimmich, who is still recovering from a recurring ankle issue that has plagued him since November.  

"We don’t want to take any risks, he should make a complete recovery," Bayern sporting director Max Eberl told German media this week. 

"I can’t say exactly when he will be fit: it won't be a very long time, but it could be a few days. It’s a precaution so that he can be available for the whole second half of the season," he added. 

While Kimmich may miss out, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is hoping to return to action on Sunday after missing the last game of 2025 due to a thigh injury.  

Bayern's clash with Wolfsburg is one of several Bundesliga games threatened by extreme winter weather this weekend.  

Temperatures in Munich are expected to reach lows of minus nine degrees Celsius on Sunday, with snow forecast the day before. 

The north and east of Germany were also hit by heavy snow this week, with school closures in Hamburg and Bremen and interruptions to public transport across the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Hamburg-based club St. Pauli said they were "closely monitoring the situation" ahead of their home game against RB Leipzig on Saturday.  

"Due to the weather situation, we cannot guarantee that the game will take place under normal conditions," the club warned.  

In the capital, fans of Union Berlin volunteered Thursday to help clear ice and snow from the stadium entrances ahead of Saturday's game against Mainz.