First Team

Majer double not enough

The Wolves were beaten 3-2 by FC Bayern in their Bundesliga opener.

VfL Wolfsburg suffered a late 3-2 defeat to FC Bayern Munich in their opening game of the new Bundesliga season on Sunday. For a long time, the Wolves looked like claiming at least a point against the visitors, who began the afternoon as favourites, but Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side delivered an impressive battling performance and managed to keep the record Bundesliga champions at bay for large parts of the contest. Bayern did, however, draw first blood when Jamal Musiala put them ahead with 20 minutes on the clock.

Strong second half

Lovro Majer restored parity from the penalty spot early in the second half (47’), and the Croatian international was in the right place at the right time to put the hosts 2-1 ahead eight minutes later. A Jakub Kaminski own goal made it 2-2 in the 65th minute, but there was little to choose between the two teams until Serge Gnabry completed the scoring eight minutes from time. The Green-and-Whites’ next opportunity to register their first points of the campaign is on Saturday 31 August (15:30 CEST), when they visit newly promoted Holstein Kiel.

Goals

  • 0-1 Jamal Musiala (20’): Bayern apply pressure down the right and Sacha Boey gets the better of Kaminski before reaching the byline and cutting the ball back for the onrushing Musiala, who slides home from close range.
     
  • 1-1 Lovro Majer (47’): Ridle Baku feeds Tiago Tomas, who is fouled by Boey inside the left corner of the penalty area. Referee Daniel Siebert points to the spot and Majer sends a confident finish into the right corner to restore parity.
     
  • 2-1 Lovro Majer (55’): VfL complete the turnaround! Patrick Wimmer responds quickest to a misplaced ball in the Bayern defence and makes a beeline for goal. He lays the ball off to Majer, who slides it beyond the retreating Manuel Neuer and Dayot Upamecano.
     
  • 2-2 Jakub Kaminski (65’): A tough one to take. Harry Kane rises highest from a corner and steers a header back towards goal, which strikes Kaminski on its way into the net.
     
  • 2-3 Serge Gnabry (82’): The battling Thomas Müller and Kane combine to release Gnabry, who finds the far corner to win the game for Bayern.

Reaction

Ralph Hasenhüttl: “We tried to make life as difficult as possible for Bayern, and I think we succeeded. I don’t know how many people would have expected us to play like that here today. I knew we’d done well in pre-season. In the first half, it was important to stay in the game and keep their quality under control. It was clear we’d get our chances in the second half because we’re fit, can run and have great belief in ourselves. You have to do a lot of things right to trouble opponents of that quality. Unfortunately, all we’ll get for that today are a few kind words, but I’m very proud of the team, who gave everything on the pitch until the very end.”

Vincent Kompany: “A lot of things went right for us in the first half. We conceded our goals early in the second half and lost momentum as a result. The second half wasn’t as good as it should have been, but our mentality was right. The team kept playing and tried to score [another] goal.”

Line-ups and stats

VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara – Fischer, Bornauw, Zesiger, Kaminski – Arnold, Svanberg (85‘ Wind) – Baku, Majer (79‘ Gerhardt), Tomas – Wimmer (71‘ Behrens)

Subs: Müller (GK), Cozza, Odogu, Bröger, Dardai, Akaegbobi

FC Bayern München: Neuer – Boey (65‘ T. Müller), M.-J. Kim (81‘ Dier), Upamecano, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlovic, Gnabry, Musiala, Olise (75‘ Coman) – Kane

Subs: Ulreich (GK), Guerreiro, Goretzka, Palhinha, Laimer, Tel

Goals: 0-1 Musiala (20’), 1-1 Majer (47’/pen), 2-1 Majer (55’), Kaminski (65’/own goal), 2-3 Gnabry (82’)

Yellow cards: Svanberg, Zesiger / Kane, Boey, Musiala

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

Attendance: 28,917 (sold out) at Volkswagen Arena