Having already beaten RB Leipzig twice this season, VfL Wolfsburg couldn’t make it three out of three on Saturday as they were beaten 3-0 by the Roten Bullen. The Wolves showed some positive signs in Saxony but lacked the cutting edge required, and their task was made harder by two moments of individual brilliance from Leipzig at the wrong time.
Team news
On his return to the Red Bull Arena, Ralph Hasenhüttl had to do without Patrick Wimmer due to illness, so Amin Sarr took his place. The Wolfsburg boss also brought in Cedric Zesiger (after suspension), Kilian Fischer, Aster Vranckx and Kevin Behrens following the 3-1 defeat to Gladbach, with Mattias Svanberg, Joakim Maehle, Tiago Tomas and Jonas Wind making way. It was a first start of the season for Fischer.
Goals
- 1-0 Olmo (13’): Leipzig’s first real chance results in the first goal. From Benjamin Henrichs’ throw-in, the ball lands at the feet of Xaver Schlager, who lays it off to Dani Olmo just outside the penalty area. The Spaniard is put under pressure by Zesiger but gets past the VfL defender with a nice turn before finishing into the left corner with a precise, low shot.
- 2-0 Sesko (68’): The Wolves look to be getting closer to an equaliser, but it’s Leipzig who take their chance. Benjamin Sesko wins the ball off Maximilian Arnold following a throw-in and then the hosts take off in the other direction. Xavi is given a bit too much time outside the box and plays the ball into the path of Sesko, who takes it forward before firing in from 13 metres to double Leipzig’s lead, with the ball appearing to take a slight deflection.
- 3-0 Openda (82’): This goal had been coming – and it’s a replica of Olmo’s opener. The Spanish attacker is the provider this time for Lois Openda, who turns Sebastiaan Bornauw and slots the ball low past Pavao Pervan.
Reaction
Marco Rose: "I'm pleased about an important win for us. Wolfsburg made life difficult for us, which you see in the statistics. We didn't get into our game the way we would've liked. That made it all the more important that we stuck at it. The second goal came at the right time."
Ralph Hasenhüttl: "We tried for a long time to frustrate Leipzig and put our stamp on them. But if you want to get anything here, you just need a perfect performance – and it wasn't today."
Line-ups and stats
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi – Simakan (78‘ Klostermann), Orban, Lukeba, Henrichs – Haidara (86‘ Bitshiabu), Schlager (76‘ Seiwald) – Dani Olmo, Xavi – Openda (86‘ Elmas), Sesko (76‘ Baumgartner)
Subs: Blaswich (GK), Lenz, Kampl
VfL Wolfsburg: Pervan – Bornauw, Jenz (55‘ Svanberg), Zesiger – Fischer (66‘ Maehle), Arnold, Vranckx, Gerhardt – Baku (78‘ Tiago Tomas), Behrens (78‘ Wind), Sarr (55‘ Majer)
Subs: Klinger (GK), Cerny, Paredes, Kaminski
Goals: 1-0 Olmo (13’), 2-0 Sesko (68’), 3-0 Openda (82’)
Yellow cards: Schlager, Xavi, Rose / Fischer, Behrens, Jenz, Svanberg
Referee: Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle)
Attendance: 45,000 at Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
