Emphatic win

VfL Wolfsburg continued the improved form they have shown in recent weeks by picking up a third Bundesliga win of the season at home to VfL Bochum on Saturday. Head coach Niko Kovac’s charges comfortably overcame their visitors 4-0 in a one-sided game in front of 24,037 spectators at the Volkswagen Arena courtesy of a Felix Nmecha double (28′, 58′) – his first-ever Bundesliga goals – as well as efforts from Ridle Baku (35′) and Jonas Wind (80′). As a result, VfL climbed to 12th in the standings.

The Green-and-Whites are next in action on Saturday 5 November (kick-off 15:30 CET), when they play their penultimate away game before the World Cup hiatus at 1. FSV Mainz 05.

1-0 F. Nmecha (28′): Maximilian Arnold delivers a brilliant cross into the box, from which Felix Nmecha heads VfL in front.

2-0 Baku (35′): After a superb team move involving Yannick Gerhardt and Patrick Wimmer, the ball is played to Baku on the edge of the area and he lashes it into the corner.

3-0 F. Nmecha (58′): Another cross from Arnold finds the head of Nmecha, who makes it 3-0.

4-0 Wind (80′): Paulo Otavio plays the ball to Jonas Wind and the Dane creates a pocket of space for himself before drilling the ball in off the inside of the post.

Niko Kovac: “I think we put in a very mature performance over the 90 minutes. We managed to cope well with Bochum’s aggressive defending high up the pitch, we created space really well, and we carved out a number of chances. Overall, I’m very pleased and happy, and I’d like to congratulate my team on an extraordinary display.”

Thomas Letsch: “It was a more than deserved win for Wolfsburg. The two teams were worlds apart today. We were lacking everything we’ve shown on the pitch in recent weeks: compactness, aggression, desire and energy.”

VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Baku (81‘ Fischer), Bornauw, van de Ven, Otavio – Arnold, F. Nmecha (73’ Svanberg) – Gerhardt, Wimmer (66‘ Marmoush), Kaminski (81‘ Brekalo) – L. Nmecha (73’ Wind)

Subs: Pervan (GK), Lacroix, Roussillon, Guilavogui

VfL Bochum: Riemann – Gamboa, Ordets (46‘ Ganvoula), Heintz, Soares – Losilla, Stöger, Förster (58’ Zoller), Osei-Tutu (59‘ Holtmann), Antwi-Adjei (73‘ Stafylidis) – Hofmann (73‘ Oermann)

Subs: Esser (GK), Horn, Lampropoulos, Osterhage

Goals: 1-0 F. Nmecha (28’), 2-0 Baku (35’), 3-0 F. Nmecha (58’), 4-0 Wind (80’)

Yellow cards: Bornauw / Heintz

Referee: Robert Hartmann (Wangen)

Attendance: 24,037 at Volkswagen Arena