The VfL Wolfsburg footballers have given up their top position for direct entry into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
At Real Madrid, the German runner-up lost 0-2 (0-1) despite a long majority and slipped nine points behind the Spaniards from the top 4 before the league phase ends against Chelsea on December 17th.
Maria Mendez (19th) and Linda Caicedo (67th) scored for the hosts (10 points) led by ex-national player Sara Däbritz, who played ten men after yellow-red against Maelle Lakrar (45th + 2). After a violent collision with VfL goalkeeper Stina Johannes, Iris Santiago (90+3) also flew off the pitch in the final phase, according to video evidence.
The best four teams advance directly to the quarter-finals, the eight following clubs have to play the remaining four tickets. With participation in the play-offs safely in the bag, Wolfsburg got off to a powerful start with a fast-paced start at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, but missed the first good chances.
Mendez did better on the other side after a corner. Afterwards, Alexandra Popp and her VfL colleagues visibly lost the thread.
With the majority in front of 1,171 fans, Wolfsburg continued to struggle to find solutions against their now deeper opponents even after the break in the pouring rain. Real turned to counterattacking – with success thanks to Caicedo. Shortly before the end, national goalkeeper Johannes had to undergo lengthy facial treatment after the crash with Santiago.