Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made one change to his starting line-up compared to the 6-0 victory against FC Heidenheim before the international break. Malik Tillman came into the the starting XI in place of the injured Arthur, who was not in the squad at the Volkswagen Arena. Nathan Tella was back in the Werkself matchday squad for the first time since matchday 3 against Eintracht Frankfurt on 12 September.
Bayer 04, with Jonas Hofmann on the right wing, took control of the game right from the start. And the Werkself were immediately rewarded in their first completed attack: Ernest Poku and Alejandro Grimaldo combined on the left to break into the penalty area, the Spaniard's cross initially failed to find the hard-pressed Malik Tillman, but Jonas Hofmann was in the right place at the far post and he coolly and skilfully slotted the ball into the corner of the net to give Bayer 04 an early 1-0 lead (9'). The Werkself then succeeded in keeping the ball and opponents on moving as they went on to add to their tally: A cross from Aleix Garcia found Edmond Tapsoba and his powerful header made it 2-0 (24'). The third strike was then beautifully played out: From Garcia, Patrik Schick played the ball through to Malik Tillman, who ran into the Wolfsburg box on his own and skilfully sent keeper Grabara the wrong way (33'). Three shots, three goals - you can't get more clinical than that. Shortly before the break, Mark Flekken prevented VfL from scoring when he kept out a shot by Majer with his foot (41').
For the second half Jarell Quansah came on for Ibrahim Maza. Flekken was immediately the centre of attention again when Koulierakis shot and Pejcinovic followed up with an attempt on goal (47'). And Wolfsburg continued to press with Denis Vavro scoring with his head from a corner to make it 3-1 (57'). Poku missed a big chance to restore the three-goal lead shortly after that when he volleyed the ball over the bar from seven metres out from a good cross by Hofmann (60'). Jonas Wind, who had just come on as a sub, then appeared to have scored to make it 3-2 but the goal was reviewed by the VAR and ruled offside (62'). Martin Terrier replaced Tillman (64'). Kasper Hjulmand then also brought on Jeanuel Belocian and Christian Kofane for Grimaldo and Schick (75'). Flekken turned another Wind shot over the bar (82'). Nathan Tella then made his comeback as he replaced Poku (86').
The first of three three-game weeks continues for Bayer 04. On Tuesday, 25 November, the Black and Reds are away to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League (kick-off: 21:00 CET). The top match follows in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 29 November, against Borussia Dortmund, with the kick-off at the BayArena at 18:30 CET.
Match stats:
VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara - Kumbedi (Bürger 85’), Seelt (Koulierakis 46’), Vavro, Zehnter - Arnold, Gerhardt (Eriksen 61’) - Wimmer (Svanberg 61’), Majer, Amoura - Pejcinovic (Wind 61’)
Bayer 04: Flekken - Andrich, Badé, Tapsoba - Hofmann, Maza (Quansah 46’), Garcia, Grimaldo (Belocian 75’) - Tillman (Terrier 64’), Poku (Tella 86’) - Schick (Kofane 75’)
Goals: 0-1 Hofmann (9'), 0-2 Tapsoba (24'), 0-3 Tillman (33'), 1-3 Vavro (57')
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Wangen)
Yellow cards: Amoura - Andrich
Attendance: 25,036 at the Volkswagen Arena
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