VfL Wolfsburg remain without a win in 2024, despite scoring twice at the Volkswagen Arena – which was sold out for the fifth time this season – in an eventual 3-2 defeat to VfB Stuttgart. Niko Kovac’s side not only made too many mistakes against VfB, they also came up against the wrong team at the wrong time. The visitors exuded the confidence of a side flying high in the league, taking the lead twice before establishing a two-goal cushion late in the second half. The Wolves pulled a goal back in an exciting end to the contest, but Stuttgart were not to be denied the three points.
Hero turned villain: VfL defender Joakim Maehle endured a rollercoaster afternoon on Saturday. The Dane finished off a magnificent move early in the second half to make it 1-1, but a late challenge on Enzo Millot moments later gifted Stuttgart the opportunity to retake the lead from the penalty spot – and Serhou Guirassy made no mistake. To add insult to injury, the foul earned Maehle his fifth yellow card of the season, ruling him out of VfL’s upcoming trip to Bayer Leverkusen.
Paredes comes out on top: Kevin Paredes was named Man of the Match by VfL supporters after being handed his sixth consecutive start against Stuttgart. The USA international received 42 per cent of the vote, finishing ahead of Maehle (26 per cent) and Maxence Lacroix (seven per cent).
Back on the scoresheet at last: The highlight of the game from a VfL perspective came in the 83rd minute. Lukas Nmecha’s effort not only raised the Wolves’ hopes of salvaging a point, it was also the 25-year-old striker’s first Bundesliga goal since November 2022. Nmecha, who has been plagued by persistent knee troubles since last season, was also making his 50th top-flight appearance on Saturday.
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON
- xG: WOB 0.93 – VfB 0.98
- Possession: WOB 42% - VfB 58%
- Distance covered: WOB 119.1 km – VfB 117.9 km
- Sprints: WOB 295 – VfB 247
- Challenges won: WOB 84 – VfB 95
- Corners: WOB 5 – VfB 4
- Most ground covered: Maximilian Arnold (WOB) 12.5 km – Atakan Karazor (VfB) 12.2 km
- Fastest player: Maxence Lacroix (WOB) 33.37 km/h – Josha Vagnoman (VfB) 32.99 km/h
