VfL Wolfsburg suffered their first home defeat of the season on Matchday 29, losing 3-2 to FC Bayern Munich at the Volkswagen Arena. The visitors led 3-1 at half-time after a brace from Jamal Musiala (15’, 37’) and a goal from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (24’), with Wout Weghorst only briefly reducing the deficit for the Green-and-Whites (35’). After the break, Maximilian Philipp made things interesting with his goal in the 54th minute, but Oliver Glasner’s men couldn’t find an equaliser. VfL stay third in the table despite their fifth defeat of the season.
Victor starts
Glasner made three changes to his starting line-up, with Paulo Otavio preferred to Jerome Roussillon at left-back, Maximilian Philipp replacing the suspended Maximilian Arnold and Joao Victor coming in for Josip Brekalo.
Behind early on
The Wolves were aggressive but fell behind in the 15th minute, when Alphonso Davies broke down the left flank and fed Musiala, who dribbled through the penalty area before finding a gap and beating Koen Casteels. Choupo-Moting doubled Bayern’s advantage nine minutes later, capitalising on a mistake from Casteels – who failed to hold onto a cross – and slotting in from close range.
Weghorst replies
After two chances in quick succession for Leroy Sane (31’, 33’), VfL mustered the required response. Weghorst received the ball on a plate after Xaver Schlager did well to win possession, and curled a first-time shot into the net for his 19th goal of the campaign. The Wolves’ joy was short-lived, though, as Musiala made it 3-1 with a header from the penalty spot just two minutes later.
Roussillon misses chance for equaliser
VfL came out for the second half with energy and were rewarded for their efforts with another goal. A fine Otavio cross was met at the near post by Philipp, who found the Bayern net in full flow. The game was wide open for a long time after that as Glasner’s side pressed for an equaliser. Their best chance came in the 83rd minute through substitute Roussillon, but the Frenchman missed the target from 16 metres and so it finished in a 3-2 defeat for Wolfsburg.
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Mbabu, Lacroix, Brooks, Paulo Otavio – Schlager, Gerhardt, Baku (55’ Brekalo), Philipp (78‘ Bialek), Joao Victor (60‘ Roussillon) – Weghorst
FC Bayern: Neuer – Pavard, Boateng, Hernandez (90‘+6 Nianzou), Davies – Kimmich, Alaba, Sane (87‘ Martinez), Müller, Musiala (73‘ Coman) – Choupo-Moting
Goals: 0-1 Musiala (15’), 0-2 Choupo-Moting (24‘), 1-2 Weghorst (35’), 1-3 Musiala (37’), 2-3 Philipp (54’)
Yellow cards: Otavio, Mbabu / Hernandez
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
