Not our day in Wolfsburg!
Both sides looked to get forward early on in the game, but Wolfsburg drew first blood. Jonas Wind scored a header in the ninth minute to give the Wolves an early lead. Despite going behind, Leipzig were dominant for the rest of the first half and had a number of good chances to equalise. Lois Openda was denied by Koen Casteels twice (17′, 27′) and Wolfsburg’s keeper was also equal to Yussuf Poulsen’s header in the 20th minute. Leipzig continued to pile the pressure on the Wolves, but just couldn’t find an equaliser before the half-time whistle.
Leipzig got a well-deserved equaliser early on in the second half. Benjamin Henrichs played a delicate ball to put Openda through on goal. Our number 17 unselfishly squared it to Yussuf Poulsen, who poked the ball home to make it 1-1 (52′). RBL had opportunities to take the lead shortly afterwards, but Yussi and Lois were unable to convert their chances (60′).
Wolfsburg punished Leipzig’s sloppy finishing, as Jonas Wind gave the ball to Rogerio in the box, who then smashed the ball into the top corner to put VfL back in front (66′). Leipzig continued to push for an equaliser, but Wolfsburg sat back and held on to their lead until the final whistle.
Bundesliga | VfL Wolfsburg – RB Leipzig
LINE-UPS
WOB: Casteels (C)- Bornauw (46′ Jenz), Lacroix, Zesiger – Vranckx, Svanberg (83′ Gerhardt), Rogerio, Baku – Majer (77′ Arnold), Cerny (73′ Paredes), Wind (83′ Tomas)
RBL: Blaswich – Simakan, Castello Jr., Raum, Henrichs –Haidara (83′ Seiwald),Schlager, Xavi, Baumgartner (83′ Carvalho) – Openda, Poulsen (C, 73′ Forsberg)
WOB unused substitutes: Pervan (GK), Fischer, Sarr, Kaminski
RBL unused substitutes: Zingerle (GK), Lenz, Klostermann, Moriba, Sesko, Kampl
GOALS
1-0 Wind (9′), 1-1 Poulsen (52′), 2-1 Rogerio (66′)
YELLOW CARDS
Openda (33′), Rose (34′), Xavi (79′) | Svanberg (35′), Zesiger (45+4′), Lacroix (59′), Casteels (90+2′)
OFFICIALS
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Wangen)
First assistant: Christian Leicher (Landshut)
Second assistant: Christof Günsch (Darmstadt)
Fourth official: Richard Hempel (Großnaundorf)
Video assistant: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
ATTENDANCE
25,350 at the Volkswagen Arena
4th minute: First chance for RBL!
Leipzig make a promising start. DavidRaum’s cross finds MoSimakan in the box, but his header goes just wide.
9th minute: Wolfsburg take the lead
The Wolves get an early goal. MattiasSvenberg finds some space down the right and puts a ball into the box. Jonas Wind connects with the cross and Janis Blaswich can’t keep the Dane’s header out.
17th minute: Nice link-up play from Xavi and Openda
RBL’s dynamic duo look threatening for the first time. Xavi dances through Wolfsburg’s midfield and plays Openda through on goal. The Belgian shoots, but his effort is saved by KoenCasteels.
28th minute: Leipzig turn up the heat
The boys have really grown into the game and come close to getting an equaliser. It’s Lois Openda again with the chance, as he picks up the ball just outside the six-yard box and lets fly. KoenCasteels gets a hand to his shot to deny our striker once again.
33rd minute: Penalty overturned
There’s chaos in the Wolfsburg box as Sebastiaan Bornauw appears to trip Lois Openda. The referee points to the spot, but reverses his decision after reviewing the footage.
52nd minute: Poulsen levels things up!
RBL finally get their reward! Benjamin Henrichs slips a perfectly-weighted pass through to Lois Openda, who squares the ball to Yussuf Poulsen. Yussi pokes it home to make it 1-1.
60th minute: Poulsen almost bags his second
Lois and Xavi combine nicely to inject some pace into Leipzig’s attack and Yussuf Poulsen picks up the ball in space. He gets a shot off, but Casteels denies him from close range.
66th minute: Wolfsburg back in front
The hosts take the lead again. After some nice passing from the Wolves, the ball ends up at Jonas Wind’s feet. The striker lays it off to Rogerio, who smashes the ball into the top corner.
77th minute: Leipzig keeping the pressure on
Time is running out for RBL, but the game’s not over yet. We haven’t had many big chances, but the boys are trying to create space in behind.
85th minute: RBL push for an equaliser
RBL are throwing everything at Wolfsburg in the hope of creating one last chance, but VfL’s defence is staying solid.