Football World Reacts: AC Milan’s Comeback Thriller, Bayern’s Record Run, and Major January Transfer Shakes

As the January transfer window heats up and domestic leagues continue their intense campaigns, Friday, January 16, 2026, brings forth a blend of thrilling match results and significant player movements dominating football headlines. From dramatic comebacks in Serie A to record-breaking performances in the Bundesliga and high-profile transfers across Europe and Asia, the football world is abuzz with activity as clubs strive to solidify their positions and bolster their squads for the challenges ahead.

European Giants Deliver Drama and Dominance

The last round of fixtures in Europe saw captivating encounters, with AC Milan staging an impressive comeback in Italy and Bayern Munich continuing their relentless march in Germany, setting new benchmarks.

Serie A: Milan’s Resilient Victory and Bologna’s Goal Fest

AC Milan staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Como 3-1 in a hard-fought Serie A clash on Thursday, January 15, 2026, narrowing the gap on league leaders Inter Milan. The Rossoneri initially fell behind when Marc-Oliver Kempf headed Como into an early lead in the 10th minute from a corner. However, Milan showed their resilience, equalizing just before halftime through a Christopher Nkunku penalty after Adrien Rabiot was fouled. The second half belonged to Adrien Rabiot, who scored twice to complete Milan’s turnaround. His first came ten minutes into the half, controlling a crossfield pass from Rafael Leão before volleying home, and he sealed his brace to secure the crucial three points. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan was also instrumental, making eight saves to thwart a lively Como side, who accumulated 1.78 expected goals to Milan’s 1.28, suggesting the scoreline arguably flattered the Rossoneri. This victory extends Milan’s unbeaten run in Serie A to 19 games, a feat not achieved since 2005.
In another thrilling Serie A fixture on Thursday, January 15, Bologna fought back from an early deficit to secure a 3-2 victory over Hellas Verona. The match, a rescheduled Week 16 fixture, saw Verona’s Gift Orban open the scoring from the edge of the box after a swift counter-attack in the first half. Bologna responded emphatically, with Riccardo Orsolini curling in an equalizer. Further impressive goals from Jens Odgaard and Santiago Castro put Bologna firmly in the lead by halftime, making the score 3-1. Despite a late scare when Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler accidentally scored an own goal in the 71st minute, Bologna held on to end their seven-round winless streak.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich’s Record-Breaking Run Continues

Bayern Munich solidified their position at the top of the Bundesliga, defeating FC Cologne 3-1 on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. This victory marked a historic milestone for the Bavarian giants, as they recorded the best first half of a season in Bundesliga history, maintaining an 11-point lead. Cologne initially took a surprising lead in the 41st minute through a spectacular solo effort and finish from Linton Maina. However, Bayern quickly responded, with Serge Gnabry equalizing in first-half stoppage time with an acrobatic flick off the crossbar. In the second half, Bayern asserted their dominance, with Kim Min-jae and Leon Karl adding goals in the 71st and 84th minutes respectively to seal the win. Their 66-goal haul at this stage of the season also sets a new league record, showcasing their formidable attacking prowess.
In another Bundesliga match on Thursday, January 15, Augsburg salvaged a 1-1 draw against 10-man Union Berlin. Augsburg’s Alexis Claude-Maurice scored with an audacious long-range strike just before halftime. Union Berlin’s comeback hopes seemed dim when defender Derrick Köhn was sent off in the 89th minute. However, Marin Ljubicic flicked the ball into the net in stoppage time to snatch a point for Union. The game was also notably interrupted in the first half by fan protests, who threw toy balls onto the field to protest the league’s scheduling.

Premier League and La Liga: A Quiet Midweek

The Premier League and La Liga had a relatively quiet midweek regarding league fixtures on January 15th and 16th, 2026. No significant league match results were reported for these days. However, both leagues are intensely focused on the ongoing January transfer window, with several high-profile movements dominating the headlines.

A-Leagues: Sydney FC’s Dominance on Display

In the Australian A-League, a significant result from the recent round saw Sydney FC convincingly defeat Macarthur FC 3-0 on January 10, 2026. This decisive away victory showcased Sydney FC’s strength and their ambition to climb the league standings. While specific goalscorers for this particular match were not immediately detailed in the recent search results, the comprehensive scoreline indicates a dominant performance by the Sky Blues. This result was more impactful than the 0-0 draw between Melbourne City and Auckland FC on January 15.

Transfer Market Frenzy: Big Moves and Whispers Across the Globe

The January transfer window is in full swing, with clubs making crucial decisions to strengthen their squads for the remainder of the season.

Premier League: Spurs and City Make Major Signings

Tottenham Hotspur has completed the significant signing of midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid in a deal reportedly worth around £34.6 million. This move marks a major reinforcement for Spurs as they look to solidify their midfield options.
Manchester City has bolstered their attacking lineup by acquiring Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £62.5 million. Semenyo’s arrival adds pace and goalscoring threat to City’s formidable squad.
Aston Villa has confirmed the departure of Donyell Malen to AS Roma on a loan deal with an option to buy for approximately £25 million in the summer. Malen, who joined Villa from Borussia Dortmund last January, had struggled for consistent starts despite scoring 10 goals across all competitions.
In other confirmed deals, Leeds United secured the loan signing of Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton, while Brentford brought in Kaye Furo from Club Brugge.
Rumors continue to swirl, with Manchester City reportedly keen on signing defender Marc Guehi. Meanwhile, Manchester United are said to be confident about a potential £100 million summer move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. There are also whispers of Ruben Loftus-Cheek potentially returning to England from AC Milan, with Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle among the interested clubs. Aston Villa is also reportedly in tentative discussions to sign Tammy Abraham.

From a La Liga perspective, Atlético Madrid’s sale of Conor Gallagher to Tottenham Hotspur is a notable confirmed outgoing transfer, impacting the Spanish capital club.
João Cancelo has made a second loan move to Barcelona, returning to the Catalan giants to reinforce their defensive options.
The biggest transfer rumor dominating headlines in Spain is the ambitious target set by Real Madrid, who are reportedly aiming to sign Erling Haaland in 2026. Talks are said to be underway, indicating a long-term strategic move by the club.
Additionally, Aston Villa is showing keen interest in Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos, who has seen limited game time with the La Liga club and is considering his options.

AS Roma has completed the loan signing of Donyell Malen from Aston Villa, with an option to make the move permanent. This is a significant acquisition for the Serie A side, adding a dynamic forward to their ranks.
Juventus is reportedly angling for a move to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace this month. The French striker is seen as a potential replacement for Dusan Vlahovic, whose long-term future at the Turin club remains uncertain.
Other confirmed Serie A transfers include AC Milan acquiring Jacopo Sardo from Monza and Lazio securing Dutch midfielder Kenneth Taylor from Ajax. Fiorentina also brought in Gino Infantino on loan.

Bundesliga: Focus on Outgoings

While major incoming transfers for top Bundesliga clubs haven’t dominated the headlines as much as other leagues, Pascal Gross’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Brighton is a notable outgoing transfer from the German top flight.

Wellington Phoenix has bolstered their attack by signing Norwegian midfielder Sander Kartum on loan from Scottish Premiership leaders Heart of Midlothian FC for the remainder of the season. Kartum, a 30-year-old attacking midfielder, arrives as a replacement for the injured Hideki Ishige.
The Newcastle Jets have secured a significant transfer coup by signing English midfielder Zach Clough on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Clough returns to the A-Leagues after a stint in the Malaysian Super League, bringing much-needed creativity to the Jets’ midfield.
Brisbane Roar is actively pursuing new attacking options and has confirmed being in talks with Socceroo striker Nick D’Agostino, who is currently based in Europe.

Thai League: BG Pathum United Secures Dolah

BG Pathum United has officially announced the loan signing of defender Elias Dolah from Buriram United. The Thai national team player joins “The Rabbits” until the end of the 2025-26 season, marking a significant defensive reinforcement.

Persija Jakarta has officially introduced Fajar Fathurrahman as their first new recruit for the second half of the 2025/2026 Super League season, aiming to strengthen their defense.
Beyond confirmed deals, Persija Jakarta is heavily rumored to be on the verge of signing Moroccan striker Alaeddine Ajaraie from Indian club NorthEast United FC. Reports suggest a deal is close, with Ajaraie having an impressive goalscoring record in the Indian Super League.

Information regarding significant match results and major transfer rumors or confirmed deals for the Philippine League, Malaysia League, and V. League (Vietnam) was not prominently available in the latest search results for January 15-16, 2026. These leagues may have had a quieter period or their news may not have been widely reported in the aggregated sources.