First Team

Defeat against Frankfurt

VfL lost 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 3.

The Wolves are still waiting for their first points at home this season after a brace from former player Omar Marmoush consigned them to a 2-1 defeat. Ridle Baku had cancelled out Marmoush’s 30th-minute opener (76’), but the Egyptian restored Frankfurt’s lead with a late penalty (82’). VfL visit defending German champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen next on Sunday 22 September (kick-off 15:30 CEST).

Team news

Head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl was forced into one change from the 2-0 win at Holstein Kiel before the international break. Lovro Majer was ruled out with a ligament injury, so summer signing Salih Özcan was handed his first start. There was special applause before kick-off for VfL captain Maximilian Arnold, as he made his 350th Bundesliga appearance for the Green-and-Whites.

SGE boss Dino Toppmöller stuck with the same side that won 3-1 against Hoffenheim, meaning ex-Wolf Marmoush – who was a doubt in the build-up to the match – also started.

Reaction

Ralph Hasenhüttl (VfL Wolfsburg head coach): “Obviously we’re disappointed. I’d prefer to talk more about the game, but I can’t understand the penalty decision or the yellow card when it should have been red. Regardless of whether or not we should have lost, at the end of the day we didn’t take any points against a strong team. It was very intense, both teams fought well and expended a lot of energy. We had two great chances that we could have made more of.”

Head coach Dino Toppmöller: “Wolfsburg were aggressive and attacked a lot of second balls, albeit without being very dangerous in front of goal. We weren’t really in the game for the first 15 to 20 minutes. That’s why we made some changes, which helped us both in attack and in defence. VfL put us under pressure, but we showed a good reaction after the break, as we did against Hoffenheim, and didn’t let ourselves get thrown off course. We’re happy to take the three points.”

Goals

  • 0-1 Marmoush (30’): Against the run of play, the Eintracht attack demonstrate their technical quality on the counter. The lightning-quick Hugo Ekitike is released by Hugo Larsson down the left and he squares the ball into the path of the onrushing Marmoush, who lifts it over Kamil Grabara before tapping in. It had to be Marmoush, who unnecessarily provokes the home end with his celebration.

  • 1-1 Baku (76’): Eintracht had looked the more likely to score the second goal, but the Wolves peg them back! Baku shows great feet on the edge of the penalty area before curling the ball into the left corner past substitute goalkeeper Kaua Santos.

  • 1-2 Marmoush (82’ pen): A kick in the teeth! From a high delivery into the box, the ball hits the arm of Cedric Zesiger and it’s a penalty. Marmoush takes it and holds his nerve to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

Line-up and stats

VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara – Fischer (88‘ Koulierakis), Bornauw, Zesiger, Kaminski – Arnold, Özcan (46‘ Amoura), Baku, Svanberg (70‘ Vranckx), Tomas (70‘ Wind) – Wimmer (70‘ Behrens)

Subs: Müller (GK), Vavro, Gerhardt, B. Dardai

Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp (46‘ Kaua Santos) – Tuta, Koch, Theate – Kristensen Shkiri, Larsson (84‘ Amenda), Nkounkou (67‘ Knauff), Götze (46‘ Chaibi), Marmoush – Etikite (74‘ Matanovic)

Subs: Collins, Dahoud, Dina Ebimbe, Uzun

Goals: 0-1 Marmoush (30’), 1-1 Baku (76’), 1-2 Marmoush (82’, pen)

Yellow cards: Arnold, Zesiger / Shkiri, Chaibi

Referee: Harm Osmers (Hannover)

Attendance: 26,281 at Volkswagen Arena