VfL Wolfsburg is relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time – SC Paderborn celebrates

After 29 years of excellence

After 29 years in the first division, VfL Wolfsburg was relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time. The Wolves lost 2-1 after extra time at SC Paderborn in the relegation second leg. After regular time the score was 1:1. The first leg ended goalless.

Dzenan Pejcinovic initially shot VfL into the lead early in the 3rd minute before Joakim Maehle (14th) saw a yellow-red card and the game changed in SCP’s favor. Before half-time, Filip Bilbija (39′) equalized, and in extra time Laurin Curda (100′) became the celebrated match winner for East Westphalia.

The Wolfsburg team, supported by the Volkswagen Group, have played in the Bundesliga since 1997. Relegation means a turning point for the team coached by Dieter Hecking with players like Christian Eriksen and Mohamed Amoura. Paderborn, on the other hand, celebrated a return to the top German league after six years.

VfL only had a chance in the playoffs with eight points from the last five Bundesliga games. At the end of a season that was completely messed up right from the start, there is now sadness and disappointment. In the coming weeks, the multi-million dollar Volkswagen club will have to comprehensively review the playing time.

“We have to go one better today if we want to stay in the league,” Hecking said before the game on “Sat.1”. And his team took the 61-year-old at his word at the start of the game. Wolfsburg got off to a dream start. Adam Daghim sprinted down the left flank, laid back and Pejcinovic made the traveling VfL fans celebrate with a well-placed low shot into the corner.

However, Paderborn were not left lastingly impressed by their early deficit. The East Westphalians, who had been warmed up to the game by their fans with a bus reception and fireworks, showed a good reaction and gained field advantages. The reward initially wasn’t a goal, but it was the majority. Maehle, who had recently seen yellow when forming a pack, was overly motivated in a duel with Mattes Hansen. Referee Felix Zwayer didn’t hesitate and sent the Dane off the pitch.

Wolfsburg retreated when they were outnumbered and Paderborn built up pressure. The equalizer was only a matter of time. A shot from Mika Baur whizzed just wide of the goal. When Santiago Castañeda tried, Kamil Grabara was there in the Wolfsburg goal. Then Bilbija shook the arena. The 26-year-old scored with his head after an extended throw-in.

The one-goal game continued after halftime. Jeanuël Belocian and Eriksen saved Wolfsburg from a double chance from Paderborn. Sebastian Klaas hit the post with a powerful shot.

Virtually nothing came offensively from Wolfsburg. Given the Bundesliga club’s squad potential, this was astonishing despite the minority. The statistics also provided evidence of the one-sided nature of the game: after a good hour, SCP had taken 13 corners and VfL had taken one.

Despite the inferiority, the guests somehow saved themselves into extra time, also because Sven Michel for Paderborn only hit the post again in stoppage time. But in extra time, Lower Saxony conceded 1:2. Curda gave the second division team a deserved lead and turned the small Paderborn stadium into a madhouse.