VfL Wolfsburg suffered their first away defeat under new head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl on Saturday afternoon, losing 3-0 to an RB Leipzig side blessed with individual prowess. The reverse leaves the Wolves just two points above the relegation play-off place in their battle to avoid the drop.
Too many defeats: Saturday’s loss was VfL’s 15th in the league this season. They suffered just 11 top-flight defeats in the whole of 2022/23.
Selection surprise: Right-back Kilian Fischer was handed his first senior start in Leipzig and repaid the faith of the Wolves coaching team with a committed display. With a top speed of 35.3 km/h, the 23-year-old was even the fastest player of Matchday 29.
Another suspension: Defender Moritz Jenz will miss the home game with VfL Bochum on Saturday 20 April (15:30 CEST) after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. On a more positive note, Maxence Lacroix is set to return from suspension at the weekend.
The run-in: VfL’s relegation fears continue to intensify after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat, but with home games against fellow strugglers Bochum, Darmstadt 98 (4 May) and Mainz 05 (18 May) coming up before the end of the campaign, survival remains firmly in their hands. What better time to claim their first Bundesliga win on home soil since the 2-1 triumph over Leipzig on 25 November?
Congratulations: In their 45th season in the top flight, Bayer 04 Leverkusen were crowned German champions for the first time. They are the first side to win their maiden Bundesliga title since the Wolves in 2009.
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON
- Attempts at goal: RBL 6 – WOB 3
- Distance covered: RBL 115.1 km – WOB 117 km
- Possession: RBL 50 % – WOB 50 %
- Pass completion rate: RBL 88 % – WOB 88 %
- Sprints: RBL 218 – WOB 233
- Challenges won: RBL 101 – WOB 103
- Fastest player: Lois Openda (RBL) 35 km/h – Kilian Fischer (WOB) 35.28 km/h
