Bayer 04 head coach Xabi Alonso made eight changes to the starting XI for the 3-2 win against FC Köln in the DFB Pokal. Matej Kovar, Edmond Tapsoba, Jeremie Frimpong, Exequiel Palacios, Emiliano Buendía, Florian Wirtz, Patrik Schick (all on the bench) and the suspended Alejandro Grimaldo made way for Lukas Hradecky, Mario Hermoso, Arthur, Robert Andrich, Aleix Garcia, Piero Hincapie, Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface. Wolfsburg were first out of the blocks and soon appeared to take the lead: But the headed goal from Konstantinos Koulierakis from a free kick taken by Mattias Svanberg was ruled out by referee Stegemann for the goalscorer being offside after the intervention of the VAR (7').
The Werkself also posed the first threat on goal from a free kick – and how: Garcia hit the ball to the far post where Hincapie headed it back into the mix where the visibly surprised Nordi Mukiele headed over the bar from close range (22'). Most of the action was in midfield between the two penalty areas with danger mainly coming from set plays such as with a header from a corner by Maximilian Arnold safely held by Hradecky (33'). Wolfsburg had more of the game and produced an opportunity were Hradecky twice impressively kept out Tiago Thomas (42'). At the other end, Granit Xhaka hit a shot from distance over the bar (43').
There were no changes for the start of the second half. And, of course, there was another goalscoring opportunity from a set play when Tella had a shot from a corner but was unable to beat the VfL keeper Marius Müller (48'). Shortly after that, Xhaka went unchallenged before firing in an effort from 18 metres out – but over the bar (50'). Bayer 04 now increased their work rate and at times kept Wolfsburg pinned back in their own half. The first two substitutions came after the hour mark with Wirtz and Frimpong coming on for Garcia and Arthur (60'). A volley from Boniface from a tight angle then clearly missed the target (69'). The Werkself were fortunate shortly after that when a well struck shot from Kilian Fischer hit the bar (75'). Schick and Buendía then replaced Boniface and Tella (76').
It was disappointing when Frimpong was unable to control the ball in a promising counter-attack instead of being able to pass to Wirtz (82'). Bayer 04 looked to land the winning blow in the closing stages as they continued to search for gaps in the Wolfsburg defence. There were then seven minutes of added time with the visitors pressing for the winner. And it was unlucky when Wirtz hit a ball past the far post after a solo run into the penalty area (90+5'). The game ended all square at 0-0 with Bayer 04 now unbeaten in the last 27 Bundesliga away games but the gap to leaders Bayern Munich has grown by two points to eight.
Bayer 04 play league leaders FC Bayern in the top match in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 15 February. The kick-off at the BayArena against the team from Munich is at 18.30 CET.
Match stats:
VfL Wolfsburg: Müller – Fischer (Bornauw 90+3'), Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle – Arnold – Svanberg (Vranckx 90'), Wimmer (Gerhardt 90') – Tiago Tomas (Skov Olsen 73'), Amoura – Wind (Behrens 90')
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Mukiele, Tah, Hermoso – Arthur (Frimpong 60'), Andrich, Xhaka, Garcia (Garcia 60'), Hincapie – Tella (Buendía 76'), Boniface (Schick 76')
Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)
Yellow cards: Maehle – Boniface, Andrich, Mukiele
Attendance: 28,198
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