VfL Wolfsburg is getting better and better in the Bundesliga and won 1-0 (0-0) at VfB Stuttgart on the 25th matchday. Omar Marmoush scored the goal of the day in the 55th minute.
For VfL it was only the second win in the second half of the season, but the fourth game in a row without a defeat. The Wolfsburg now have 38 points and remain in the race for international places. Stuttgart, on the other hand, remained without a win for the fourth game in a row and has only won once in the second half of the season. VfB slipped to last place in the table.
Both teams noticed at the beginning that they don’t have the greatest self-confidence at the moment. Accordingly, both teams went to work cautiously. It wasn’t until the 16th minute that things got dicey for the first time, but both sides did too. First VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels parried a low shot from Gil Dias, in direct return VfB keeper Fabian Bredlow prevented Wolfsburg from taking the lead when he won the one-on-one duel against Jakub Kaminski.
Stuttgarter Sosa and Führich without luck
However, the scene was a kind of wake-up call, but not for VfL. Because as a result, the Stuttgart were the more active team. VfB tried again and again down the left flank via Borna Sosa and Chris Führich, who worked a lot but were unsuccessful in their actions
Wolfsburg only invested more in the game towards the end of the first half, but also remained harmless. Felix Nmecha shot a half-volley over the goal in the 45th minute. But it didn’t get any more dangerous, so it went goalless into the cabins.
After the break, Wolfsburg continued where they left off in the first half and came out of the break with more offensive drive. Ultimately, however, it was a one-off action that brought the desired success. Marmoush got the ball in midfield, ran unhindered towards the penalty area and hit the bottom left corner with a low shot from 20 meters (56′).
Wolfsburg’s Marmoush remains dangerous
The goal gave ex-Stuttgart Marmoush a boost. Just two minutes later he had the next dangerous shot, but failed from a tight angle at Bredlow (58th). In the 64th minute he even put a goal on Kevin Paredes, but was ruled offside.
VfB coach Bruno Labbadia reacted and made four changes. Marmoush was once again dangerous, but this time his long-range shot swept wide of the target (71′). VfB shot at the Wolfsburg goal for the second time in the game in the 76th minute. However, Enzo Millot did not pose any major problems for Casteels.
But Stuttgart now launched a final offensive. In the 86th minute, VfB called for a hand penalty when the ball caught the arm of Wolfsburg’s Sebastiaan Bornauw in the penalty area. Referee Felix Brych decided against a penalty after a brief consultation with the video assistant. It didn’t get any more dangerous after that, so that VfL was ultimately able to save the victory over time.
Stuttgart in the capital – Wolfsburg versus Augsburg
After the international break, VfB Stuttgart will have to hold their own against top team Union Berlin (Saturday, April 1st, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). At the same time, Wolfsburg is fighting for points in their own stadium against Augsburg.