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VfL Wolfsburg scored a narrow victory against VfB Stuttgart in the last Bundesliga game of the year. The reward: fourth place in the Champions League. Stuttgart, on the other hand, simply cannot win in Lower Saxony.
Despite five short-term quarantine cases, VfL Wolfsburg scored 1-0 (0-0) against VfB Stuttgart at the end of Bundesliga matchday 13 on Sunday (December 20, 2020). Josip Brekalo scored the winning goal with a free kick in the 50th minute.
Lower Saxony climbed to fourth place on the table, although they had to compete without Maximilian Arnold and Jerome Rousillon, who tested positive for COVID-19, and their contacts Xaver Schlager and Maximilian Philipp. “It was not easy for us,” Wolfsburg captain Josuha Guilavogui said in an interview with ARD radio. “It was a hard work, but it is doing us very well.”
For Stuttgart, however, it remains the same: trips to Wolfsburgen are simply not worth it for the Swabians. Prior to this game, VfB had been waiting for a victory in Wolfsburg for twelve games and almost exactly fifteen years, the last victory in December 2005 was Giovanni Trapattoni. A long time ago, and the negative series continues. For the VfB, who are so strong away from home, it was their first defeat for their opponent on matchday 13. Stuttgart’s Daniel Didavi spoke to ARD radio about a rather unfortunate loss. “We were the same today, we can take advantage of that.”
Gerhardt creates danger
In the first part, which was characterized by tactical subtleties, Wolfsburg caused the first surprise. Wout Weghorst was already in the guests’ penalty area when he took out Yannick Gerhardt. Gerhardt first tried to lift the ball over goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, but missed. Then Gerhardt headed the rebound towards the goal without frills, but only hit the outside post (12th).
After just under half an hour, Weghorst was again involved in a Wolfsburg scoring opportunity, Kobel parried his low shot to the corner. After the next corner, Gerhardt came close to the end and put the ball into the goal. But the goal didn’t count: referee Florian Badstübner had previously called a push by Bartosz Bialek against Waldemar Anton as a striker foul (32nd).
For a long time, however, little of VfB Stuttgart’s often praised offense was seen. The best opportunity was lost after a good pass from Daniel Didavi Silas Wamangituka, whose low shot from 14 meters missed only a few centimeters (23).
Stuttgart hits the crossbar, Wolfsburg in goal
In fact, the opening minutes of the second half were much more exciting: first, Stuttgart’s Marc Oliver Kempf hit the crossbar with his head after a corner from Borna Sosa (46th). Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels raised his hands but would not have had a chance to defend himself.
Wolfsburg’s Brekalo took the lead with a free kick for four minutes, but they were very lucky that Orel Mangala deflected first and then Silas Wamangituka. As a result, goalkeeper Kobel was heading to the wrong corner and had no chance. Then VfB Stuttgart picked up the pace and put up some good chances, of which Nicólas González missed the best in the 70th minute when he missed the goal from close range.
Both teams will continue on Wednesday (December 23, 2020) in the second round of the DFB Cup. Starting at 6.30 pm, VfL Wolfsburg host SV Sandhausen of the second division, before VfB Stuttgart take on SC Freiburg at home at 8.45 pm. The Bundesliga is back in early January: Stuttgart have a home game against RB Leipzig on Saturday (January 2, 2021), Wolfsburg have one more day off and then compete in Dortmund.
Those: sportschau.de
