With an impressive performance against runner-up RB Leipzig, VfL Wolfsburg regained the top of the table in the Bundesliga. The very stable team of coach Mark van Bommel defeated the Saxons 1-0 (0-0) at the end of the third game day on Sunday. The perfect result of nine points means a club record: Never before had VfL started a Bundesliga season with three wins.
In front of 12,058 spectators, Jérôme Roussillon scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute for Lower Saxony, who had previously been without a win against Leipzig in eight competitive games. Unlike the previous week, the guests presented themselves to be harmless in attack in the brilliant 4-0 against VfB Stuttgart. Three points from three games are not enough for the club’s claims.
Both teams fought an intense duel with gripping duels right from the start. Not everything was offensive, but the direction was clear: After winning the ball, things should move forward quickly. VfL had the first chance. National player Ridle Baku flicked the ball in the direction of the goal corner, but Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi parried.
As expected, captain Marcel Sabitzer was not in the squad for the guests. The 27-year-old is probably about to move to FC Bayern Munich, but was officially not absent because of that. “I can honestly say he’s injured,” said coach Jesse Marsch on the DAZN streaming service. At Wolfsburg, new signing Luca Waldschmidt has to wait for his debut after suffering a head injury in training. He wasn’t there either.
Even without the 25-year-old, the wolves initially played more purposefully. Leipzig kept conquering balls in midfield, but then did not fit precisely enough into the top. Center forward André Silva was on the road a lot around the opposing penalty area, but was not put in dangerous final positions by his teammates for a long time. Until the 39th minute: After a free kick, the Portuguese came to the header, but failed because of Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels. Mohamed Simakan put the margin over the gate.
Wolfsburg had a surprising amount of power
After the break, Wolfsburg started with a lot of power and forward thrust. A sharp cross from Renato Steffen fended off Gulacsi right in front of the feet of Roussillon and the French only had to push in from almost ten meters. For Roussillon it was the first goal in almost exactly two years. The leadership gave VfL an additional boost. Top striker Wout Weghorst had a great chance to extend the lead. However, the Dutchman shot over it free-standing (58th).
Because Weghorst didn’t score, it remained tight until the end. Leipzig increased the pressure and came in front of the Wolfsburg goal again and again, especially through set pieces. Defense chief Willi Orban shot after a sharp cross in the 78th minute just wide of the goal. With a stable defense and a little luck, however, VfL brought the lead over time. (dpa)
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