VfL Wolfsburg has ended its negative run after four defeats from five games. At 1. FC Köln, the wolves easily won 2-0.
Cautious cheers from former Cologne player Yannick Gerhardt.
IMAGO/Revierfoto
Both Cologne and Wolfsburg recently suffered a 3-0 defeat – FC lost in Stuttgart and Wolves at home against RB Leipzig. Steffen Baumgart reacted with five changes in the starting XI, Niko Kovac made four changes. At FC, Selke and Tigges started together as a striker for the first time, but the duo was signed off for a long time.
After a remarkable choreography across the entire stadium on the occasion of the club’s 75th anniversary, a former Cologne native of all people provided an early mood dampener. Gerhardt was served by Marmoush and shot straight away, Schwäbe let the hidden but durable shot into the goal – 1:0 for the guests (4th).
FC didn’t seem shocked at first and stuck to the attack pressing. However, Wolfsburg were not impressed by this and kept playfully breaking away from pressure situations. However, the wolves did not come to clear conclusions any more than FC, who became more and more unimaginative as time went on. Casteels was only tested on a long-range shot by Ljubicic (37′), on the other side Schwäbe safely caught attempts by Arnold (34′) and Baku (45′).
Cologne too one-dimensional
Even after the restart, the Cologne game in particular was still too one-dimensional, Wolfsburg only had to defend flanks. Lacroix and van de Ven managed to do that at all times, so Casteels had a relaxed afternoon – only Hübers tested the Belgian again from a distance (58′).
The guests continued to concentrate on their compactness, but were also able to free themselves once or twice. After 66 minutes, Hector was clearly too late against Fischer in the penalty area, and Arnold safely converted the penalty kick to make it 2-0 for VfL.
Hübers’ goal doesn’t count
The game was decided early on, because FC simply couldn’t find any means of embarrassing Wolfsburg in the closing stages. Selke failed again from close range at Casteels (89′), Hübers’ supposed goal deep in injury time was also conceded by VAR due to an offside position (90’+5′).
Wolfsburg thus held the zero at the back and ended the negative run of four defeats from five games. Meanwhile, FC lost for the first time in front of their own audience in 2023, but remains in twelfth place. Next Saturday (3.30 p.m.) Cologne has to travel to Berlin to Union, Wolfsburg will receive Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday (5.30 p.m.).