It was an up-and-down season for VfL Wolfsburg and new signing Julian Draxler. - © © gettyimages
It was an up-and-down season for VfL Wolfsburg and new signing Julian Draxler. - © © gettyimages

Season Review 2015/16: VfL Wolfsburg

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It was a mixed campaign for VfL Wolfsburg: Dieter Hecking's side reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in club history, suffering an agonising defeat at the hands of Real Madrid CF, but ended the Bundesliga season in an unsatisfactory eighth, with the second-worst away record in the league.

Season in a nutshell

After finishing second the league and winning the DFB Cup in 2014/15, Wolfsburg's main aims for this campaign were to establish themselves as a European heavyweight and as the Bundesliga's second power behind FC Bayern München. While the Wolves enjoyed a historic run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, they will not be participating in the competition again next season after ending 2015/16 in eighth and outside of even a UEFA Europa League spot.

Top three games

MD3: VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 FC Schalke 04

It all started so well, as goals from Bas Dost, Ricardo Rodriguez and Timm Klose continued the Wolves' unbeaten start to the season.

MD13: VfL Wolfsburg 6-0 SV Werder Bremen

The Wolves picked up their biggest win of the season, hammering northern rivals Bremen on home turf.

MD24: Hannover 96 0-4 VfL Wolfsburg

Andre Schürrle scored his maiden Bundesliga hat-trick as Wolfsburg downed their local rivals in memorable fashion.

MVP

VfL youth product Maximilian Arnold can certainly bear no share of the blame for the Wolves' disappointing campaign. Equally adept deeper or further forward in midfield, the 21-year-old chipped in with three goals - including a crucial equaliser against Hamburger SV on Matchday 16 - and one assist, as well as constantly running himself into the ground for his club.

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