Bruno Labbadia’s side recovered swiftly from Hendrik Weydandt’s opener for the visitors, equalising within two minutes through Renato Steffen, who doubled both his and the Wolves’ tally in the second period before Jerome Roussillon made absolutely sure of the three points late on.
Pervan in for Casteels
Labbadia was forced into a late change to his starting line-up as regular goalkeeper Koen Casteels suffered an injury in the warm-up, with Pavao Pervan coming in to replace him. Maximilian Arnold was missing for the first time this season as he sat out a suspension and Yannick Gerhardt was injured. Labbadia also left out former 96er Felix Klaus as Elvis Rexhbecaj, Josip Brekalo and Steffen all came into the side.
Quickfire equaliser
The game remained balanced in the early stages with little in the way of chances until Steffen brought a good save from Michael Esser from Roussillon’s cross. It was Hannover who broke the deadlock, though, breaking from long periods of Wolfsburg possession to net on the half-hour mark through Weydandt. The Wolves hit back almost immediately, however, with Steffen this time steering his header perfectly past Esser.
Steffen strikes again
In the second period the Wolves had stand-in keeper Pervan to thank for two important saves to deny Genki Haraguchi, but the pendulum soon swung in VfL's favour as Steffen got his second of the match. Daniel Ginczek was the provider with a fine threaded pass, and it was another substitute, Yunus Malli, who set up number three as he rounded the goalkeeper and laid off for Roussillon to put the exclamation mark on a victory that keeps the Wolves in the hunt for a top-six finish.
VfL Wolfsburg: Pervan - William, Knoche, Brooks, Roussillon - Guilavogui – Mehmedi (Klaus 85'), Rexhbecaj – Steffen (Malli 77'), Brekalo (Ginczek 62') - Weghorst
Hannover 96: Esser - Sorg, Anton, Wimmer, Korb - Schwegler - Haraguchi, Bakalorz (Soto 80') - Müller (Muslija), Maina - Weydandt
Goals: Weydandt (30'), Steffen (32', 71'), Roussillon (78')
Yellow cards: Steffen / Müller, Wimmer
Attendance: 23,512
Referee: Benjamin Cortus
