VfL Wolfsburg’s women’s team started the 2026 competitive year in the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga with a narrow 2-1 home victory against 1. FC Köln. In front of 2,343 spectators at the AOK Stadium, Wolfsburg made a perfect start, but lost control of the game at times. Lineth Beerensteyn opened the scoring after just four minutes. The courageous visitors from Cologne, however, drew level in the 22nd minute thanks to an own goal by Sarai Linder. In a tightly contested match, Beerensteyn struck again in the 68th minute to secure three important points for the hosts.
Personal
VfL head coach Stephan Lerch made seven changes to the starting eleven compared to the last league match against Hamburger SV. Sarai Linder, Sophia Kleinherne, Camilla Küver, Janina Minge, Ella Peddemors, Kessya Bussy, and Beerensteyn came in for Thea Bjelde, Guro Bergsvand, Joelle Wedemeyer, Justine Kielland, Lena Lattwein, Vivien Endemann, and Cora Zicai. 1.FC Köln also made two changes following their 1-0 win against SC Freiburg. Weronika Zawistowska replaced Zoe Hasenauer, while Adriana Achcinska started instead of Laura Donhauser.
Match Summary
The match began at a lively pace, with Wolfsburg striking early. In the fourth minute, the hosts combined well out of defence under pressure. Bussy advanced down the left flank and played a precise pass to Beerensteyn, who calmly converted to make it 1-0. The goal gave Wolfsburg confidence, but Köln remained unfazed. The visitors pressed high, forcing Wolfsburg into errors and creating their own dangerous situations. In the 22nd minute, Martyna Wiankowska delivered a cross that was inadvertently deflected by Linder into her own net, leveling the score. Cologne remained a threat, capitalising on mistakes in Wolfsburg’s build-up play. Stina Johannes was forced into several saves, including after a turnover in her own penalty area. Wolfsburg had a chance to regain the lead through Peddemors, but Irina Fuchs made a strong save.
