Wolfsburg hold second-placed RB Leipzig to 1-1 draw

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Second-placed RB Leipzig failed to win for the third successive Bundesliga game after being held to a 1-1 draw by Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena.

Wolfsburg 1-1 RB Leipzig

Goals: 1-0 Verhaegh (pen. 15'), 1-1 Halstenberg (52')

Red card: Upamecano (90+2')

A mix-up in the Wolfsburg defence presented Timo Werner with the game's first chance inside eight minutes, but the RB Leipzig striker’s low drive was well saved by a full-stretch Koen Casteels. Leipzig opposite number Peter Gulasci had no such luck on the quarter-hour mark. After Ibrahima Konate needlessly bundled Mario Gomez to ground in the penalty box, Paul Verhaegh stepped up to calmly fire the Wolves ahead.

Until that point, Leipzig had enjoyed the lion's share of possession, and finally got the goal their dominance deserved early in the second half when Marcel Halstenberg arrived unmarked to apply the finishing touch to Yussuf Poulsen's exquisite turn and pass. There were signs Ralph Hasenhüttl's men were beginning to run out of steam, however, as Wolfsburg substitute Divock Origi ballooned over from barely three yards. Indeed, after Dayot Upamecano was sent off for a second-bookable offence in added time, the visitors had Gulasci's point-blank heroics at the feet of Josuha Guilavogui to thank for escaping with a point.

Watch: Origi reacts to missing a veritable sitter on Matchday 16

Match stats

    Halstenberg scored his first Bundesliga goal at the 44th attempt.Verhaegh scored his first goal for Wolfsburg. The Dutchman has successfully converted 18 of his 20 penalty attempts in the Bundesliga.The Wolves have suffered just one defeat since Martin Schmidt became head coach. Leipzig have failed to win either of their last three league games, which constitutes their longest winless run of the season so far.RBL have not won on the road in four attempts for the first time.Leipzig have a better record after 50 Bundesliga matches (W28, D11, L11) than Bayern managed in their first 50 top-flight games (W28, D9, L13).

Line-ups

Wolfsburg: Casteels - Verhaegh, Brooks, Uduokhai, Gerhardt - William, Guilavogui, Arnold - Malli, Didavi (Osimhen 89') - Gomez (c) (Origi 66')
Unused dubs: Grün, Bruma, Ntep, Knoche, Rexhbecaj
Absentees: Camacho (ankle), Blaszczykowski (back)
Coach: Martin Schmidt

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) – Klostermann (Laimer 82'), Upamecano, Konate, Halstenberg – Ilsanker, Keita – Kampl (Kaiser 89'), Bruma (Demme 79') – Poulsen, Werner
Unused subs: Mvogo, Orban, Schmitz, Palacios
Absentees: Forsberg (abdominal), Sabitzer (shoulder), Bernardo (ill), Augustin (ill)
Coach: Ralph Hasenhüttl

Click here for the Wolfsburg vs. Leipzig Match Centre!