The hosts dominated the early stages, Daniel Ginczek twice going close to breaking the first-half deadlock – once denied on the line and once shooting wide when clean through. Bruno Labbadia's side got the goal their impressive performance deserved five minutes into the second half when Roussillon converted on the rebound after Ginczek's initial shot was saved. The Wolves defended resolutely late on to close out the 1-0 triumph, and next face Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday 2 December (kick-off 18:00 CET).
Knoche and Mehmedi return
Wolfsburg coach Labbadia made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Hannover 96 prior to the international break. Robin Knoche returned in defence in place of the injured Marcel Tisserand, while Admir Mehmedi was selected ahead of Yunus Malli for his first start since Matchday 5.
Ginczek twice goes close
The Wolves made a positive start, with Roussillon heavily involved on the left flank, but it was Leipzig who first went close when Yussuf Poulsen headed past the post in the ninth minute. Inches wide that may have been, but Labbadia's side then went closer still. First Yannick Gerhardt's shot was blocked, before Peter Gulacsi denied Ginczek on the line from the follow-up. Ginczek had a second opportunity to beat Gulacsi in the 29th minute but fired wide when sent one-on-one from Maximilian Arnold's through ball, the final clear chance of a hard-fought first period.
Roussillon on target
Buoyed by those chances, the Wolves made a similarly rapid start to the second period, Mehmedi striking the post from a tight angle within two minutes of the restart. At the other end, Koen Casteels produced a fine save low to his right to push Diego Demme's shot onto the post, before Wolfsburg scored the goal their enterprising performance merited. Mehmedi released Ginczek in behind, and although Gulacsi saved the initial shot, Roussillon was arriving to poke into the empty net from the rebound. Leipzig threw caution to the wind after going behind, but one Bruma shot aside, the visitors fashioned little to trouble Casteels. In front of the Belgian goalkeeper, John Brooks and Knoche excelled, their rock-solid displays helping the Wolves claim three important points.
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – William, Knoche, Brooks, Roussillon – Mehmedi (Steffen 73'), Gerhardt, Arnold, Rexhbecaj (Uduokhai 87') – Ginczek (Brekalo 73'), Weghorst
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi – Klostermann, Konaté, Orban (Saracchi 70'), Halstenberg (Augustin 70') – Ilsanker, Laimer (Cunha 80'), Demme – Bruma, Poulsen, Werner
Goals: Roussillon (50')
Yellow cards: Rexhbecaj / Orban
Attendance: 22,832
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)
