As of: October 11, 2025 7:47 p.m
The VfL Wolfsburg footballers lost the top game of the women’s Bundesliga and thus their lead in the table. The Lower Saxony team lost 1:3 (0:1) to FC Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Around 12,500 spectators watched the duel one against two in the table in the large Wolfsburg Arena. Compared to many other games, there is no longer an outstanding audience – especially during the men’s international break. Three of the four goals were also from the category of bankruptcies, bad luck and mishaps. The top game was exciting, but in terms of quality it wasn’t an advertisement for the women’s Bundesliga.
Klara Bühl (27th) and Momoko Tanikawa (57th) each put the Munich team in the lead. Janina Minge equalized three minutes after the restart. It was FC Bayern’s first goal conceded this Bundesliga season. In stoppage time, Wolfsburg’s Joelle Wedemeyer was shown a red card for an emergency stop. A little later Alara Sehitler scored the final score (90+5).
“We didn’t have the determination or quality in front of the goal to push the ball behind the line,” said VfL captain Alexandra Popp angrily. “Then it’s obviously difficult when Bayern plays quite efficiently.” The second goal conceded in particular “hurt extremely”. Nevertheless, the game was encouraging; her team had significantly reduced the gap to Bayern.
Popp heads just past the Bayern goal
The Wolfsburg women started the game in a controlled manner. In any case, Lerch’s response to Munich’s 7-1 defeat in Barcelona on Tuesday was not an offensive one. Nevertheless, the hosts, who themselves had won 4-0 against Paris St. Germain, had their first big chance: after a cross from Cora Zicai, Alexandra Popp came through strongly in the middle, but her header whizzed past the goal (14th).
Three minutes later, FCB also reported. First Bühl tested VfL keeper Stina Johannes. After the following corner, Linda Dahlmann had the lead from six meters – but Minge saved with a great tackle.
Johannes doesn’t look good at Bühl’s 1-0 win
It went back and forth – but the Munich team’s lead was okay. And the “She-Wolves” helped actively: First Bühl was only accompanied during her solo from the left side into the center, then Johannes didn’t look good at all when she finished from 18 meters. The national goalkeeper was down far too late. And so the ball, which was not shot particularly well, hit the net – 0:1 (27th).
Wolfsburg’s Lineth Beerensteyn could have equalized shortly afterwards on her 29th birthday, but was denied by Ena Mahmutovic (30th). On the other hand, Bühl could have added more. This time Johannes made a strong save (33′).
Mahmutovic doesn’t look good at Minges 1-1
Lerch’s plan for the start of the second half of the game looked completely different: Wolfsburg immediately moved forward and promptly equalized. This time, Bayern’s number one didn’t look good at a corner. Mahmutovic first made the high ball sharp. In the end, Minge got a shot, which was deflected. Mahmutovic had to reach behind himself for the first time this Bundesliga season (48th).
Bayern quickly responded with a 2-1 win
But just nine minutes later, Munich were back in the lead. A cross from Giulia Gwinn was in the air for seconds – and yet Wedemeyer was wrong. The defender jumped under the ball. Tanikawa scored a volley – 2:1. Shortly afterwards, Pernille Harder had the third goal on her feet, but Johannes wiped the ball away with a reflex (61′).
It took Wolfsburg a long time to cope with the setback. After another poorly cleared corner, Beerensteyn shot at the far post, but the ball landed on the side netting (77′).
Wedemeyer sees red, Sehitler makes everything clear
Overall, the hosts showed a decent performance and met the double winners on an equal footing. But the equalizer didn’t work despite several opportunities – the final consequence in front of the goal was missing.
Shortly after Wedemeyer was sent off (90+3), Sehitler made it 3-1. Bitter for the Wolfsburg women – more could have been achieved for them in this top game.
