Olise's 56th-min strike sends Bayern past Wolfsburg, leaves hosts in relegation dogfight
Synopsis
Wolfsburg's survival hopes hang by a thread after Olise's clinical 56th-minute finish handed Bayern a 1-0 victory. With 26 points and 16th place secured only on goal difference, Dieter Hecking's side must now travel to St. Pauli—also on 26 points—in a final-day knockout clash. One slip, and Wolfsburg drops to the second tier.
Key Takeaways
Michael Olise scored in the 56th minute to give Bayern Munich a 1-0 win at Wolfsburg on Saturday in the Bundesliga .
Wolfsburg remains in 16th place on 26 points , level with St.
Pauli (17th) ahead of the final round.
Harry Kane missed a Bayern penalty earlier in the match after slipping.
Matthias Svanberg hit the post for Wolfsburg in the 89th minute in a last-ditch equaliser bid.
RB Leipzig secured Champions League qualification with a 2-1 win over St.
Pauli ; Stuttgart beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 .
Michael Olise's second-half goal lifted Bayern Munich to a 1-0 win at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, leaving the hosts level on 26 points with St. Pauli ahead of a final-day survival showdown. The result leaves Wolfsburg in 16th place on goal difference, clinging to hope with one fixture remaining.
Bayern's second-half dominance
Wolfsburg started brightly and created several early chances, forcing Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig into multiple saves. However, Bayern mounted sustained pressure after the interval. Olise opened the scoring in the 56th minute, cutting in from the right flank and curling a low shot in off the underside of the bar—a finish of clinical precision that proved decisive.
Missed chances and late drama
Bayern had earlier been awarded a penalty after Olise was fouled, but Harry Kane slipped as he struck and sent the effort wide. Wolfsburg nearly equalised late on when substitute Matthias Svanberg struck the post in the 89th minute, a near-miss that underscored the hosts' resilience despite the deficit.
Survival stakes intensify
Wolfsburg will travel to face St. Pauli in the final round with both sides locked on 26 points. St. Pauli occupies 17th place (the first relegation spot), while Heidenheim remains bottom on 23 points with a game in hand. The away fixture will determine which of the two sides drops into the second tier.
Hecking's assessment
Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking acknowledged his team's performance but lamented the timing of Bayern's goal. "We saw a team that believes in itself. But the danger against Bayern is that even when you play well, there are phases when you must suffer, and that was exactly when they scored. Late on, of course, we had a huge chance to equalize," Hecking said.
Champions League race settled
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga on matchday 33, RB Leipzig secured UEFA Champions League qualification with a 2-1 win over St. Pauli. Stuttgart defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 to consolidate fourth place, Hoffenheim edged 10-man Werder Bremen 1-0, and Augsburg beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1. The results set up a tense final day across the division.
Point of View
But Wolfsburg's near-miss in the 89th minute—a Svanberg post-strike—hints at what could have been. The hosts created early chances and mounted late pressure, yet lacked the cutting edge when it mattered. Their final-day trip to St. Pauli is now a straight knockout: both sides on 26 points, one goal separating them on the table, and the Bundesliga's second tier awaiting the loser. Wolfsburg's defensive solidity has kept them in the fight; their attacking output will decide if they stay up.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Wolfsburg's final-day match against St. Pauli crucial?
Both sides are locked on 26 points with Wolfsburg in 16th place on goal difference and St. Pauli in 17th. The winner secures Bundesliga survival; the loser is relegated to the second tier. It is a straight knockout fixture.
Who scored Bayern Munich's winning goal?
Michael Olise scored in the 56th minute, cutting in from the right and curling a low shot in off the underside of the bar.
Did Bayern have other chances to extend their lead?
Yes. Harry Kane was awarded a penalty after Olise was fouled, but Kane slipped as he struck and sent the effort wide. Bayern also had other opportunities but failed to add a second goal.
What did Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking say after the match?
Hecking praised his team's belief and performance but noted that Bayern's danger lies in making opposition suffer through phases of the match. He acknowledged Wolfsburg's late equaliser chance through Svanberg's post-strike as a missed opportunity.
