First Team

Comfortable away win

The Wolves spoiled Holstein Kiel’s first ever Bundesliga home match.

VfL Wolfsburg reproduced their positive performance from last weekend to beat promoted side Holstein Kiel 2-0. The Wolves took a little while to get going but a quickfire double in the first half was enough to clinch the first three points of the season. Maximilian Arnold’s set pieces played a crucial role in the win.

Team news

Kiel coach Marcel Rapp made two changes following his team’s Bundesliga debut at Hoffenheim, where an Andrej Kramaric hat-trick consigned the newcomers to a 3-2 loss. Carl Johansson replaced Marko Ivezic in the back three following back problems, and Finn Porath was preferred to Tymoteusz Puchacz.

After an impressive display against FC Bayern Munich on Matchday 1, VfL coach Ralph Hasenhüttl saw no reason to change his starting XI. New signings Mathys Angely and Salih Özcan were included among the substitutes. For Özcan, who played for the Storks on loan in the 2019/20 season, it was a return to the Holstein-Stadion.

Goals

  • 0-1 Arnold (27’): There’s the lead! The Wolves are awarded a free-kick 28 metres out and Arnold grabs the ball, positions his team-mates in front of the penalty area and then goes for goal directly. The strike over 100 km/h is deflected by the Kiel wall, leaving goalkeeper Timon Weiner with no chance.
     
  • 0-2 Bornauw (30’): Another goal from a set play. This time Arnold is the provider and Bornauw rises highest in the penalty area to head in the free-kick from his captain.

Reaction

Marcel Rapp: “We started the game well and were really good in the tackles in the first 20 minutes. We were also able to find good solutions on the ball, just as we were against Hoffenheim. We didn’t have lots of chances but we did create a few. At the end of the day, there’s always good and bad luck involved. Wolfsburg swung the game in their favour thanks to two set pieces. I’m not happy with the result but it was an improved performance from my team.”

Ralph Hasenhüttl: “We’re very satisfied with the result. I’m proud of my team for such a professional performance. I’ve experienced first-hand what it’s like to play in your first Bundesliga home game as a promoted side, so I know full well how much energy that gives you and how difficult it can be for the opposition. With that in mind it was important that we were focused and didn’t give them too many chances. I’d also like to say thank you to our fans. At times today it felt like it was a home game for us.”

Line-ups and stats

Holstein Kiel: Weiner – Johansson, Erras, Komenda (46‘ Geschwill) – Becker, Knudsen (75‘ Remberg), Holtby (86‘ Rosenboom), Porath (63‘ Gigovic) – Machino – Bernhardsson (63‘ Arp), Pichler

Subs: Dähne (GK), Ivezic, Schulz, Puchacz

VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara – Fischer, Bornauw, Zesiger, Kaminski – Arnold, Svanberg (74‘ Wind) – Baku (80‘ Dardai), Majer (45‘+1 Özcan), Tomas (80‘ Gerhardt) – Wimmer

Subs: Müller (GK), Behrens, Angely, Odogu, Bröger

Goals: 0-1 Arnold (27‘), 0-2 Bornauw (30‘)

Yellow cards: Bernhardsson, Knudsen, Arp, Geschwill / Svanberg, Wimmer, Baku, Fischer, Tomas, Zesiger, Arnold

Red cards: Marcel Rapp / Pascal Formann

Referee: Dr. Florian Exner (Münster)

Attendance: 15,034 at Holstein-Stadion (Kiel)