VfL Wolfsburg ground out a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday afternoon. In a close-fought contest, the hosts started strongly but it was BVB who took the lead in only the eighth minute with their first opportunity through Niclas Füllkrug. The first half was again marked by several interruptions due to fan protests. After the break, the Wolves remained determined and got their reward in the 64th minute, when substitute Yannick Gerhardt headed in the equaliser.
Next up for the Green-and-Whites is a trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday 25 February (kick-off 15:30 CET).
Goals
- 0-1 Niclas Füllkrug (8’): From Marcel Sabitzer’s pass, Marco Reus drives the ball across the box. Koen Casteels comes out but can’t hold onto the ball, allowing Füllkrug to bundle the ball in from five metres.
- 1-1 Yannick Gerhardt (64’): Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel punches the ball away but it comes back towards his goal. Gerhardt rises highest and nods it in from close range.
Reaction
Niko Kovac: "We started the game really well and already had one or two good situations in the Dortmund penalty box before they scored. The team's attacking play was really good. We created plenty of chances, we just lacked the finishing touch. Nevertheless, the team did brilliantly today and battled valiantly against Champions League participants who have performed very well in recent weeks. BVB had more of the play but we had the clearer chances, so we could've also won the game. I'm proud of the lads."
Edin Terzic: "We're not pleased, neither with the performance nor the result. We scored a really well-worked goal but then didn't manage to sustain the control and the rhythm, which meant that Wolfsburg – particularly at the end of the first half – were able to create a few really good chances. In the second half, it was a very open game with different phases. Overall, I think we had more of the play but VfL had the clearer chances. That's a concern for us, so it's a fair draw."
Line-ups and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Baku, Lacroix, Jenz, Maehle – Svanberg (46‘ Gerhardt), Arnold, Majer, Paredes, Wind (88‘ Sarr) – Behrens (77‘ Nmecha)
Subs: Pervan (GK), Fischer, Zesiger, Cerny, Vranckx, Wimmer
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen – Sabitzer, Can, Brandt, Reus (79‘ Özcan), Sancho (79‘ Bynoe-Gittens) – Füllkrug (84‘ Moukoko)
Subs: A. Meyer (GK), Hummels, Morey, Wolf, Bamba, Malen
Goals: 0-1 Füllkrug (8‘), 1-1 Gerhardt (64‘)
Yellow cards: Gerhardt, Arnold, Jenz / Moukoko
Referee: Martin Petersen (Filderstadt)
Attendance: 28,917 at Volkswagen Arena (sold out)
