Maximilian Arnold (l.) scored a deserved equaliser for Wolfsburg in their 1-1 draw at home to Hamburg. - © © gettyimages / Stuart Franklin
Maximilian Arnold (l.) scored a deserved equaliser for Wolfsburg in their 1-1 draw at home to Hamburg. - © © gettyimages / Stuart Franklin

Hamburg tame Wolves in their own lair

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VfL Wolfsburg were unable to get the better of a dogged Hamburger SV side on Saturday afternoon and were forced come from behind and settle for a 1-1 draw at the Volkswagen Arena.

VfL Wolfsburg - 1-1 Hamburger SV

Goals: 0-1 Müller (21’), 1-1 Arnold (78’)

Hamburg went into the game as the division’s third-best away side this season, so it was hardly surprising when they started on the front foot. After an initial period of intense sparring, the guests took the lead when Pierre-Michel Lasogga robbed Dante of possession at the back and brought a fine save from Diego Benaglio. The ball fell kindly to Nicolai Müller, however, and he hammered the rebound into the net.

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking brought on attackers Bas Dost and Daniel Caligiuri in the second half in an effort to show why his side have the third-best record at home this season, and the Wolves were much the better team after the break. They eventually got the equaliser their pressure deserved when Maximilian Arnold finished from close range following Vieirinha’s cross. The hosts continued to push for a late winner, but HSV held on to earn a valuable point.

Man of the match

Lasogga had a hugely impressive game up front for the visitors, despite having only recently recovered from injury. His pressure forced Dante into a mistake in the lead up to the first goal and he was excellent overall, holding the ball up superbly and never letting the Wolves settle.

Talking point

Having had a 29-game unbeaten streak at home ended by Borussia Dortmund last week, the Wolves are embarking on another run at the Volkswagen Arena. They beat Manchester United 3-2 in the Champions League in midweek, and fought back to earn a draw here too.

Match stats

    Hamburg ran 123.35 kilometres collectively, compared to Wolfsburg’s 115.01 km.Dante had more touches of the ball than any other player on the field (99).Arnold’s goal was the tenth Wolfsburg have scored in the final 15 minutes of a game – more than any other side.

Line-ups

Wolfsburg: Benaglio (c) – Träsch (Dost 46’), Naldo, Dante, Schäfer – Guilavogui – Vieirinha, Draxler (Jung 90’), Arnold, Schürrle (Caligiuri 63’) – Kruse

Hamburg: Adler (c) – Sakai, Spahic, Cleber, Ostrzolek – Jung, Holtby – Müller (Diekmeier 90’), Gregoritsch, Ilicevic (Hunt 80’) – Lasogga (Schipplock 85’)