VfL Wolfsburg lost 3-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund in the final Bundesliga match of this year. Before kick-off, the players, officials and spectators honoured the victims of the tragic attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg with a minute’s silence. Both teams also wore black armbands in a further show of sympathy and solidarity.
BVB dominated the game from the off and already led by three goals at half-time, although they failed to take any of their chances in the early stages.
Three goals in six minutes
Then Donyell Malen (25’), Maximilian Beier (28’) and Julian Brandt (30’) gave the visitors a comfortable cushion in the space of six minutes. The Green-and-Whites came back into it after the restart, causing Borussia problems and reducing the deficit through Denis Vavro (58’). VfL showed spirit and improved on their first-half display in every department, but couldn’t avoid defeat despite Dortmund being reduced to 10 men when Pascal Groß was shown a red card in the 62nd minute.
The Wolves are now off for the Christmas holiday and will prepare for the start of the new footballing year at the training camp in Almancil from 2 to 10 January. The Lower Saxony side return to competitive action at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday 11 January.