After a turbulent opening spell and twice falling behind, the Wolves produced a strong response at Karlsruher SC and ultimately ran out convincing 5-2 winners. Shio Fukuda and Marvin Wanitzek twice put the hosts in front, with Alexander Bernhardsson and Fabian Reese providing the answer on each occasion. Before the break, Vinicius Souza then turned the game in the Green-and-Whites’ favour. After the restart, VfL largely controlled proceedings before Hauke Wahl and Reese again added further goals late on to seal the emphatic scoreline.
Comeback qualities: Giving up is clearly not an option for the Wolves this season. In the DFB Cup tie at VSG Altglienicke, the Green-and-Whites came from behind no fewer than three times before eventually progressing to the next round on penalties. In Karlsruhe, too, VfL refused to be rattled despite twice falling behind and went on to turn the game around in convincing fashion. The Wolves once again demonstrated their character and resilience.
Quick to settle in: Alexander Bernhardsson already appears to have settled in extremely well at VfL. The Swede, who only joined Wolfsburg from Holstein Kiel in mid-August, scored his first goal in Green and White in Karlsruhe with a clever header. The forward was also involved in several other dangerous situations both as a provider and on the receiving end, while creating a number of good chances for himself.
Double representation: Fabian Reese and Hauke Wahl have both been named in the ‘kicker’ Team of the Matchday for the first time this season following Matchday 3. Reese shone in Karlsruhe with a brace, while also setting up Wolfsburg’s first goal, taking his tally to three for the season. The pick of the bunch was his thunderous 25-metre strike to make it 2-2. Wahl impressed particularly in the air, winning numerous aerial duels and effectively wrapping up Wolfsburg’s away victory with his goal to make it 4-2.
Up one place: Following their promotion to the Bundesliga in 1997, the Wolves are back in the 2. Bundesliga this season for the first time in 29 years – and they have already climbed one place in the division’s all-time table. With two wins and a draw from their opening three matches, the Green-and-Whites have moved above Wuppertaler SV and now sit 57th with 340 points from 265 second-tier games. Their record stands at 87 wins, 79 draws and 99 defeats. FC Carl Zeiss Jena are directly ahead of VfL on 347 points.
Reese wins fan vote by a landslide: The VfL fans have cast their votes for ‘Player of the Match’. Fabian Resse finished top with a remarkable 90 per cent of the vote, securing an emphatic victory. Goalscorer Vinicius Souza came second with five per cent of the vote. Wolfsburg’s Sweden international Mattias Svanberg completes the podium in third place, also with five per cent.
