Back
20.03.2022Bundesliga

Paulinho’s late double gives Werkself 2-0 win in Wolfsburg

Bayer 04 earned a crucial win in their battle for Champions League qualification by beating Wolfsburg 2-0 on the road and defending third place in the Bundesliga table. Paulinho proved the hero for the Werkself, scoring twice in the closing stages after only coming on in the 81st minute.
crop_20220320_NB_B04_Vs_VfL_Wolfsburg_31560.jpg

“It’s a big weight off our shoulders with this win. Above all, I’m delighted for Paulinho, who always tries so hard and has now reaped the reward. We showed today that we can also offer a fight, not just play pretty,” said delighted captain Lukas Hradecky. Kerem Demirbay summarised succinctly: “We won it late but it was deserved.”

Head coach Gerardo Seoane made four changes from Thursday’s Europa League game against Atalanta. Odilon Kossounou came into the defence for Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who suffered a thigh injury against the Italians and will be out for some time. Robert Andrich, Karim Bellarabi and Sardar Azmoun were also new faces in the starting XI, replacing Piero Hincapie, Charles Aranguiz and Exequiel Palacios, who all dropped to the bench. It was January signing Azmoun’s first start for the club. As well as Fosu-Mensah, Leverkusen were also without Patrik Schick (recovery training), Florian Wirtz (ACL), Jeremie Frimpong and Andrey Lunev (both ankle injuries). The Werkself again played with a back three.

crop_20220320_NB_B04_Vs_VfL_Wolfsburg_31465.jpg

Wolfsburg has been a happy hunting ground for the Werkself of late, having remained unbeaten and picking up 13 of a possible 15 points from the last five visits. After a minute’s silence for former DFB president Egidius Braun, who passed away on Wednesday, referee Dr. Felix Brych got the game under way. The Wolves had the first chance when Jonas Wind headed harmlessly at Hradecky in the second minute, but the first opportunity of note fell to the visits when Mitchel Bakker sent Amine Adli away, but the Frenchman was denied by Pavao Pervan in goal. Kossounou later played in Moussa Diaby, but his attempted ball into the box was blocked by Sebastiaan Bornauw.

Big chance for Adli – Hradecky onto the bar

Those quick passes in behind the Wolfsburg defence looked the most likely way for the Werkself. Demirbay again used it to play in Diaby down the right, but his attempted ball to Azmoun was too hard. Almost immediately after, Adli had a golden chance after Demirbay’s lovely play, but he smashed the ball over the bar from the right – and a potentially offside position. Wolfsburg also managed two decent chances. Lukas Nmecha’s effort from a tight angle was well saved by Hradecky, who was then almost caught out by a Maximilian Arnold free-kick, but managed to tip it onto the bar.

20220320_NB_B04_Vs_VfL_Wolfsburg_31519.jpg

Azmoun only inches away

Bayer 04 allowed the Wolves very little from open play but had to be alert from a number of set pieces. Leverkusen would look to counter but misplaced a number of passes, such as the one from Adli to Diaby in the 37th minute. The Werkself got one right five minutes before the break, though, when Bellarabi squared for Azmoun on the edge of the box, but the Iranian just missed the corner and the game remained goalless after 45 minutes.

Things were lively again after the restart. Bellarabi was unable to properly connect with a Diaby cross after a lengthy sprint as Leverkusen squandered a good chance. The same for Nmecha, who slipped as he ran at Hradecky following Max Kruse’s ball. Pervan was almost caught out by a Demirbay corner to the near post before Wolfsburg struck the woodwork, Wind’s low effort coming back off the post.

Demirbay to miss Hertha game

The Werkself started to change things up, with Hincapie on for Bakker. Diaby wasn’t expecting a ball into the middle from Azmoun, while Demirbay’s follow-up was held by Pervan. Lucas Alario and Aranguiz then came on for Azmoun and Bellarabi as Leverkusen switched to a back four, with Kossounou on the right. Adli cut inside from that flank and had an effort on his left foot, but Pervan was again in the way. Seoane made the most of his bench and sent on Daley Sinkgraven with Paulinho for Kossounou and Adli in the 80th minute. Demirbay picked up a yellow card shortly after and will be suspended for the next game against Hertha Berlin.

20220320_NB_B04_Vs_VfL_Wolfsburg_31538.jpg

Paulinho’s driving run settles it

Luca Waldschmidt stumbled in a promising position before Paulinho finally got the Werkself celebrating as Aranguiz won the ball in his own half and played it forward to the Brazilian, who ran straight up the middle into the Wolfsburg box and surprised Pervan at his near post. Paulinho’s first goal of the season and he ran over to Seoane for a big embrace with four minutes remaining. There were another four added on at the end, allowing Paulinho – who had often made the wrong decision in recent games – to literally use his head this time, nodding Demirbay’s perfect cross back across goal and inside the post. It guaranteed a crucial three points for the Werkself, who strengthen their grip on third.

The Bundesliga now takes a week off for the international break. Bayer 04 return to action on Saturday, 2 April at home to Hertha (15:30 CEST).

Match stats:

Wolfsburg: Pervan – Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks (Bialek 88') – Mbabu (Baku 75'), Schlager (Vranckx 75'), Arnold, Roussillon (Gerhardt 81') – L. Nmecha, Kruse – Wind (Waldschmidt 75')

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou (Sinkgraven 81'), Tah, Tapsoba – Bellarabi (Aranguiz 73'), Andrich, Demirbay, Bakker (Hincapie 65') – Adli (Paulinho 81'), Azmoun (Alario 73'), Diaby

Goals: 0-1 Paulinho (86'), 0-2 Paulinho (90'+2)

Referee: Dr. Felix Brych (Munich)

Yellow cards: Lacroix, Vranckx – Adli, Hincapie, Demirbay

Attendance: 16,554

Related News

Teilnehmer des Einfach Fußball-Cups
Social Commitment - 01.12.2024

'Simply Football' Cup in Leverkusen: One sport for all

The seventh edition of the ‘Einfach Fußball’ ('Simply Football') Cup once again delighted participants and spectators alike. On Saturday in the Ostermann Arena in Leverkusen, around 200 sports-mad children, young people and adults with disabilities had the opportunity to compete with players from other clubs and to socialise off the pitch. A highlight of the tournament was the visit of two players from the Bayer 04 women's team.

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.12.2024

'Rudi recounts…': Vollborn on December highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
Schwarz-Rote Woche
Bayer 04 - 30.11.2024

Black and Red Week – Day 3: Big discounts on selected items

The annual Black and Red week is up and running! And day three brings you big discounts on items from the title-winning season on Saturday, 30 November…

Show more
Die PK vor dem Auswärtsspiel beim 1. FC Union Berlin | 12. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 29.11.2024

Alonso ahead of #FCUB04: 'Keep the positive feeling going'

This weekend the Werkself are away to Union Berlin after two home wins across competitions. Ahead of the match on Saturday, 30 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET/live on Sky and on Werkself Radio), head coach Xabi Alonso talked about the opponents from Berlin, the boost from the wins and two returnees to the matchday squad.

Show more
„The Best FIFA Football Awards“
Bayer 04 - 29.11.2024

FIFA World Player Trophy: Wirtz nominated

FIFA has announced the nominations for this year's The Best FIFA Football Awards. Werkself player Florian Wirtz is on the shortlist of eleven in the category of FIFA World Player, head coach Xabi Alonso is in the vote for Coach of the Year. Other nominations from the German double winners are Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Alejandro Grimaldo (all in The Best FIFA Defenders), Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz (both in The Best FIFA Midfielders). Bayer 04 fans can now vote online at FIFA.com for Wirtz, Alonso and Co.FIFA-Mittelfeldspieler“. Fans von Bayer 04 können ab sofort online auf FIFA.com für Wirtz, Alonso und Co. abstimmen.

Show more