The Wolves returned to Bundesliga action in impressive style with a 6-0 win at home to SC Freiburg. Patrick Wimmer opened the scoring for VfL in just the second minute, before a Jonas Wind brace (28’, 37’) made it 3-0 at the break. In the second half, Yannick Gerhardt got his name on the scoresheet (57’), followed by a brilliant strike from Ridle Baku to make it 5-0 (80’). Luca Waldschmidt rounded things off with a penalty in the fourth minute of added time.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Wolves, who head to the capital for an away match at Hertha BSC on Tuesday, 24 January (kick-off 20:30 CET). Paulo Otavio is suspended for that one after collecting his fifth booking of the season.
Goals
- 1-0 Wimmer (2’): Wind holds up the ball in midfield and then it comes via Gerhardt to Wimmer. The Austrian runs clear and nets the early opener.
- 2-0 Wind (28’): Wimmer turns provider this time, crossing for Wind to head in from close range.
- 3-0 Wind (37’): After a great ball in from Micky van de Ven, the Danish international is in exactly the right place and reacts fastest to bag his second goal of the afternoon.
- 4-0 Gerhardt (56’): Wimmer and Wind are again involved, initiating the move. Felix Nmecha then passes the ball to Gerhardt, whose low drive from 14 metres finds the net.
- 5-0 Baku (80’): Baku buries the ball into the right corner from substitute Kevin Paredes’ cross.
- 6-0 Waldschmidt (90’+4): Referee Felix Zwayer points to the spot following a foul on van de Ven in the box, and Waldschmidt converts the penalty to make it 6-0.
Reaction
Niko Kovac: "We got off to a very good start by opening the scoring in the second minute. Our second goal with our second shot of the game turned it into one of those evenings where everything just seems to go in and you can do no wrong. Things come off that otherwise don't usually come off. We pressed Freiburg high up and tried to put them under pressure. We were quick in our transitions and played very good football. We scored some very well-worked goals. This game was a one-off; you don’t see something like this every day. We're happy with it but we need to make sure we're focused for our next matches."
Christian Streich: "Our positioning was really bad for the first goal. We were okay after that but then Wolfsburg made it 2-0 with their second chance. That was also our own fault and in the end we lost 6-0. There's not a lot more I can say."
Line-ups and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Baku, Bornauw, van de Ven, Otavio (71‘ Lacroix) – Arnold, F. Nmecha (71’ Svanberg), Gerhardt, Wimmer (78‘ Waldschmidt), Kaminski (68‘ Paredes) – Wind (68‘ Marmoush)
Subs: Pervan (GK), Fischer, Franjic, Guilavogui
SC Freiburg: Flekken – Sildillia, Ginter, Gulde (57‘ Lienhart), Günter – M. Eggestein (90‘ Keitel), Höfler, Doan, Kyereh (71‘ Weißhaupt), Jeong (57‘ Höler) – Gregoritsch (71‘ Petersen)
Subs: Uphoff (GK), Kübler, Schmid, R. Wagner
Goals: 1-0 Wimmer (2‘),2-0 Wind (28‘), 3-0 Wind (37‘) 4-0 Gerhardt (56‘), 5-0 Baku (80‘), 6-0 Waldschmidt (90‘+4/pen)
Yellow cards: Otavio / Jeong, Eggestein
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
Attendance: 23,849 at Volkswagen Arena.
