Josip Brekalo and Cauly trade rockets as Wolfsburg held by Paderborn
Josip Brekalo cancelled out a goal from Cauly as Wolfsburg fought back to hold promoted Paderborn to a 1-1 draw at the Volkswagen Arena and extend their unbeaten start to the 2019/20 campaign to four matches in all competitions.
Goals: 0-1 Cauly (12'), 1-1 Brekalo (56')
Wolfsburg started with the confidence of a side that had won their three games of the season as Joao Victor forced a smart save from Jannik Huth inside four minutes. Xaver Schlager went close to directing a Brekalo cross goalwards soon after, but turned and ankle in the process and had to go off for Yannick Gerhardt. The Wolves were left stunned 60 seconds later, though, as Paderborn broke the deadlock with their first sight of goal. Streli Mamba directed Sven Michel's pass into the path of Cauly, who leathered an effort low and hard beyond Koen Casteels. Paderborn had their tails up, and carried a real threat on the counter, with Christopher Antwi-Adjei denied by Casteels late in an entertaining half.
Admir Mehmedi entered the fray for Wolfsburg within 10 minutes of the restart, and the move paid immediate dividends. The Switzerland international floated a ball over for Wout Weghorst to cushion into the path of Brekalo, who drilled a stunning effort into the top corner from the edge of the area. Huth pulled off a superb save from Weghorst's smart volley to maintain parity, before Casteels followed suit at the other end to deny Antwi-Adjei from point-blank range. Mehmedi continued to cause problems in the final stages, with Wolfsburg looking the more likely of the two sides to snatch the win. Josuha Guilavogui threatened from range and Felix Klaus saw an effort cleared off the line in injury time, but Paderborn held on to get their first point on the board and end the Wolves' 100 per cent start to 2019/20.
Match stats
- Wolfsburg won their first two Bundesliga matches of the season for the second year running, but have never before won their opening three.
- Paderborn coach Steffen Baumgart played 32 of his 225 Bundesliga games for Wolfsburg, scoring five of his 29 top-flight goals. However, he is yet to register his first win as a Bundesliga coach.
- Paderborn are yet to beat Wolfsburg in four competitive meetings (D2, L2), but have scored on each occasion.
- Cauly scored his first Bundesliga goal.
- Brekalo has scored in successive Bundesliga matches for the first time.
- Paderborn have scored in the opening 15 minutes of all of their Bundesliga matches so far this season.
Line-ups
Wolfsburg: Casteels – Knoche, Guilavogui (c), Brooks – Willliam, Schlager (Gerhardt 11'), Arnold, Roussillon – Brekalo (Klaus 87'), Weghorst, Victor (Mehmedi 55')
Unused subs: Pervan, Bruma, Steffen, Mbabu, Nmecha, Tisserand
Out: Camacho (ankle), Ginczek (back), Otavio (match fitness)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Paderborn: Huth – Dräger, Strohdiek (c), Hünemeier, Collins – Cauly (Holtmann 80'), Vasiliadis, Gjasula, Antwi-Adjei – Mamba (Sabiri 66'), Michel (Zolinski 86')
Unused subs: Ratajczak, Pröger, Kilian, Jans, Kapic, Gueye
Out: Schonlau (foot)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Related news
Blockbuster weekend of football ahead on Matchday 31
Matchday 31 this weekend may well prove to be a truly defining moment of the campaign at both ends of the table, with a series of huge fixtures on the cards.
What can be confirmed this matchday?
Leverkusen are already champions, but could we see a first team relegated this weekend? Or more Champions League qualifiers confirmed? Find out what can be decided on Matchday 31...
Who's in danger of being relegated?
Two teams will go down automatically, another will get a shot at redemption via the relegation play-off. Find out which teams are at the wrong end of the table...