Wolfsburg (dpa) – VfL Wolfsburg demonstrated its strength in the top battle in the women’s soccer Bundesliga and celebrated the Bundesliga comeback of DFB captain Alexandra Popp.
The cup winner to a secure 4:1 (1:0) against SC Freiburg. Popp enters her first competitive game in nine months. This also increases their chances of participating in the European Championships in England in July.
With one game less, Wolfsburg is two points behind defending champions FC Bayern Munich, who defeated 1. FC Köln 6-0 (0-0) with 35 points. National player Lea Schüller was successful three times.
The focus of the 15th matchday was Popp’s comeback. The 2016 Olympic champion suffered a cartilage tear in her knee in April 2021. After the subsequent operation, she fought back, but had to undergo another small operation at the end of January.
“If you’re right back in the starting eleven, then I think that says a lot about how we see Poppi,” said VfL coach Tommy Stroot. You worked it out extremely. “From day one, when she was allowed to train with us again, there was an energy and power that just helps every team.”
Dominique Janssen with a penalty (15th minute), Pauline Bremer (48th), Rebecka Blomqvist (51st) and national player Tabea Waßmuth (59th) scored the eleventh win for Wolfsburg in the 14th game of the season.
Frankfurt wins in the pursuit duel
On Saturday, Eintracht Frankfurt won the chasing duel with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3-2 (0-1). The hosts now have 31 points and are tied for third place in the table from Hoffenheim. The top three qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season.
In a turbulent game, Frankfurt fell behind early on due to an own goal by the Brazilian Letícia Santos (9th minute). Barbara Dunst (56th) and Lara Prasnikar (68th) turned the game in favor of the Hessians. Chantal Hagel (83rd) equalized again for the guests, but only 120 seconds later debutant Anna Aeling scored in front of 1000 spectators to win for Eintracht.