'Wolves' make Europa League last 16!

Following their 2-2 draw in their first leg of their UEFA Europa League 'Round of 32' tie, on Thursday evening in the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA, VfL Wolfsburg beat FC Villarreal 4-1, to book their place amongst the last sixteen sides in the competition. The 'Wolves' goals were scored by Edin Dzeko, Angel (o.g.), Christian Gentner and Grafite. Joan Capdevila was on target for the Spaniards.

Wolfsburg – 16,631 spectators at the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA saw an impressive VfL performance right from the out-set, and the 'Wolves' made the perfect start as Edin Dzeko netted to make it 1-0 with just ten minutes on the clock. Josué set Dzeko on his way with a wonderful pass and the VfL striker made no mistakes, driving the ball under the Spaniards crossbar from 12 meters out. Just five minutes later, Angel turned a Grafite cross into his own goal, doubling the 'Wolves' lead. On the half hour mark, Villarreal reduced the deficit from a corner as Joan Capdevila rose and headed home to make it 2-1, but Wolfsburg hit back with the perfect answer! Shortly before the half time break, Dzeko began a counter attack down the right and drove the ball across the face of the goal, where the pass found Christian Gentner powering in at the back post to slot home and make it 3-1 for Lorenz-Günther Köstner’s side going into the break.

As Grafite then got his studs to a Zvjezdan Misimovic free-kick in the 64th minute and turned the ball past the Villarreal keeper to make it 4-1, it was all over bar the shouting for the Spanish side. Despite the deficit, Villarreal pushed forward, looking to remedy some of the damage and managed to create some openings, but VfL keeper Marwin Hitz was in good form and kept the visitors at bay. With a concentrated defensive performance, the 'Wolves' held onto their 4-1 lead to deservedly progress past the Spaniards. In celebrating having taken a place in the 'Round of 16', the 'Wolves' also achieved the greatest international success in VfL Wolfsburg’s history. The next round of the competition will be played out on March 11th and 18th, when Köstner’s men face an interesting tie against Russian champions Rubin Kasan, who eliminated Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 'Round of 32'.

The game at a glance:

VfL: Hitz - Pekarik, Simunek (49’ Barzagli), Madlung, Schäfer – Riether (79’ Hasebe), Josué, Misimovic, Gentner (90’ Schindzielorz) - Grafite, Dzeko

Villarreal: Diego López - Ángel López, Godin (46’ Musacchio), Gonzalo Rodriguez, Capdevila – Marcos Senna, Bruno Soriano – Cani (46’ Llorente), David Fuster, Pires (69’ Montero) - Nilmar

Goals: 1-0 Dzeko (10’), 2-0 Ángel López (o.g., 15’), 2-1 Capdevila (30’), 3-1 Gentner (41’), 4-1 Grafite (64’)

Yellow cards: Simunek / David Fuster, Capdevila

Attendance: 16, 613

Referee: Alexandru Tudor (Romania)