Championship race in the women’s Bundesliga
Former DFB captain scores: Wolfsburg wins against the newly promoted team
November 4, 2025 – 8:55 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
VfL Wolfsburg scored three points in the women’s Bundesliga title race despite being behind. Crucial in Berlin: the substitution of Alexandra Popp.
William Laing reports from Berlin
An away win for VfL Wolfsburg at Union Berlin keeps the championship race in the women’s Bundesliga still open. Coach Stephan Lerch’s team won 4-1 (0-1) against the promoted team in the Alten Försterei stadium on Tuesday evening. At first everything looked like a bitter mistake.
Antonia Halverkamps took the undeserved lead for Union in the first half (22nd minute). Wolfsburg equalized in the second half through Lena Lattwein (57th), before substitute ex-DFB captain Alexandra Popp turned the game in VfL’s favor (71st). Smilla Vallotto then made the final decision (80th). Ella Peddemors made the final score (90+1).
Wolfsburg stays close to FC Bayern thanks to the win in the table. Shortly before VfL’s victory in Berlin, the Munich team won their away game against 1. FC Nürnberg 6-0. While Bayern now has 25 points and is still in first place, Wolfsburg remains one place behind with 22 points.
VfL took control in the early stages in front of 7,254 spectators, but the home team did not hide and attacked the guests from the Autostadt early on. So it was no surprise that Union had the first good chance of the game. However, under pressure, Orschmann headed wide of the goal (18′).
Four turns of the pointer later, the ball was actually in Wolfsburg’s goal. Halverkamps went for the corner and kicked it in front of the goal with a lot of cutting. The ball became longer and longer and sank into the net behind VfL goalkeeper Johannes, who was stretching in vain. Wolfsburg tried to find an answer before the break, but couldn’t find one. Lattwein missed the best chance, failing with a well-placed header past the brilliantly reacting FCU goalkeeper Bösl (32′).
The second section then began again with a top chance for Köpenick. Huth lost the ball near the penalty area. Schneider’s shot from the left of the edge of the penalty area came with a lot of effort onto Johannes’ box. But the DFB goalkeeper directed the ball strongly over the crossbar (47th).
The missed opportunity took its revenge ten minutes later. Schneider inadequately cleared a VfL cross and Huth brought the ball into the middle again. Beerensteyn’s shot hit the crossbar, but Lattwein scored to equalize (57′). Beerensteyn almost completely turned the game around shortly afterwards. However, Bösl blocked her shot at the near corner with a foot save (62′).
Bitter for Union: The 28-year-old was injured and had to be replaced shortly afterwards. But before the change took place, Wolfsburg struck a second time. Alexandra Popp, who had come into the game a few minutes earlier, scored to make it 2-1 after some fine work from Lattwein. After a major mistake in the Union defense, Vallotto decided the game with a fine individual action shortly afterwards, before Peddemors even added another goal.