Led by the strong Alexandra Popp, the VfL Wolfsburg footballers started the Champions League season with a home win.
Coach Stephan Lerch’s team won 4-0 (2-0) against French runner-up Paris Saint-Germain. Jackie Groenen (7th minute/own goal), Ella Peddemors (42nd), Popp (90th) and captain Janina Minge (90th + 5/hand penalty) scored the goals in front of 1,734 spectators in the AOK Stadium.
The usual enthusiastic former DFB captain Popp played a decisive role in the first two goals. Before Groenen’s own goal, the VfL striker headed the ball after a corner kick. When it was 2-0, Popp brought Svenja Huth into the lane by winning the ball, whose assist Peddemors converted flatly.
Popp puts the lid on it
The somewhat stronger guests completely lacked shooting power and precision. A number of attempts flew over or next to the VfL goal, the rest were fended off by the attentive DFB substitute goalkeeper Stina Johannes. For the passionate home team, Lineth Beerensteyn missed the possible 3-0 after an hour on Popp’s assist.
The third goal came from Popp, who headed a Huth cross over the line. Minge even made it 4-0 in stoppage time. PSG defender Elisa De Almeida had previously blocked a cross with her hand, as video evidence revealed.
On Saturday (3 p.m.) in the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg welcomes rivals FC Bayern, who are tied on points, for the top game before the Lerch team plays their second Champions League game the following Wednesday in Oslo against Valerenga IF.
Last year, both the Munich and Wolfsburg women missed the semi-finals. Unlike VfL, the German champions started the current competition with a crushing defeat at 1:7 on Tuesday in Barcelona.