VfL Wolfsburg controlled proceedings from the off in Düsseldorf and deservedly took the lead when Weghorst slotted home from the penalty spot just before the interval. The second half began slowly, but Brekalo produced an expert low finish before Ginczek powered emphatically past Michael Rensing with ten minutes left to make it 3-0 and wrap up an important win. The Wolves travel to Hannover 96 on Tuesday (kick-off: 18:30 CET) in the DFB Cup second round.
Ginczek and Weghorst up front
Wolfsburg head coach Bruno Labbadia made two changes to the side that lost to at home to Bayern Munich last time out. Ginczek replaced Elvis Rexhbecaj, while Marcel Tisserand came in for Robin Knoche in defence. Ginczek's inclusion alongside Weghorst meant the Wolves played with two up front for the first time since Matchday 5's stalemate in Mainz.
Weghorst slots from the spot
Keen to make amends for the 7-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, Düsseldorf began on the front foot, with Rouwen Hennings and Dodi Lukebakio almost capitalising on misplaced passes. After withstanding the early pressure, however, the Wolves began to take a grip on the encounter, inviting Fortuna to press high before breaking at speed. Maximilian Arnold initially came closest, his 22nd-minute shot rattling the post from Jérôme Roussillon's lay-off. Buoyed by Arnold's effort, Wolfsburg continued to push forward and when Hennings handled William's free-kick inside the box, Weghorst stepped up and sent Rensing the wrong way from the spot. Fortuna almost levelled prior to the break, but Roussillon was in the right place at the right time to clear off the line.
Brekalo and Ginczek on target
Where the first half ended with a flurry of excitement, the second began slowly. The Wolves remained in control, but apart from Arnold's effort from distance – which went just wide – neither side fashioned any clear-cut chances. Tisserand spurned one opportunity, heading over from Brekalo's corner, but the young Croatian made no mistake in the 73rd minute, dancing past a couple of challenges inside the box before rifling past Rensing to double the visitors' lead. That advantage was further extended seven minutes later when Ginczek capitalised on a loose ball on the edge of the box to fire home – an emphatic goal to round off a morale-boosting away win for Labbadia's side.
Fortuna Düsseldorf: Rensing – Ayhan, Bodzek (Ducksch 66'), Bormuth – Zimmer, Zimmermann, Morales (Barkok 78'), Gießelmann – Raman – Hennings, Lukebakio (Usami 78')
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – William, Tisserand, Brooks, Roussillon (Itter 87') – Steffen (Malli 84'), Arnold (Rexhbecaj 84'), Gerhardt, Brekalo – Ginczek, Weghorst
Goals: Weghorst (41'), Brekalo (73'), Ginczek (80')
Yellow cards: William, Arnold, Weghorst, Brooks, Ginczek, Steffen / Morales, Hennings, Gießelmann
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Hügelsheim)
