Kohfeldt’s blatant series of bankruptcies
Leipzig cramps Wolfsburg deeper into the crisis
1/23/2022 5:23 p.m
A lot of fighting, few playful elements: In a tough game between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg, very little happened in front of the goal for a long time until a single action initiated the lead of the Saxons. The situation is becoming more and more threatening for the wolves and coach Florian Wolfsburg.
The winless series continues, the pressure on coach Florian Kohfeldt increases: VfL Wolfsburg has suffered the next bitter bankruptcy in the Bundesliga relegation battle. The wolves, who fought bravely for a long time, lost 0: 2 (0: 0) at runner-up RB Leipzig. Thus, VfL was unsuccessful in the eleventh competitive game in a row.
Willi Orban (76th) and Josko Gvardiol (84th, according to video evidence) on his 20th birthday met for Leipzig in front of 1000 spectators in the Red Bull Arena. With 21 points, Wolfsburg is only two points ahead of relegation place 16, which is currently occupied by FC Augsburg. Leipzig, who have won the last three league games, kept close to the premier class. The Saxons are sixth with 31 points and are three points behind the targeted fourth place in the Champions League.
Before the game, RB coach Domenico Tedesco had warned that the high-quality Wolfsburg squad should not be underestimated despite the poor results. But the initial phase started moderately. Leipzig, who brought on Andre Silva and Hugo Novoa in attack, took the initiative. But they couldn’t find any gaps against the VfL defence, while the guests were waiting for a counterattack.
Great opportunities are scarce
That should change. After Wolfsburg’s John Anthony Brooks misjudged a long ball, Novoa (18′) was able to steal away and failed with the first dangerous end of the game from the inside right position by VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels. After that, the teams struggled a lot in midfield duels before Wolfsburg really posed a threat for the first time.
RB keeper Peter Gulacsi fished a free kick from Aster Vranckx (39) out of the bottom left corner – and the Belgian reappeared just a minute later. A ricochet from Jerome Roussillon suddenly landed in Vranckx’s penalty area, and Gulacsi saved his shot again. Yannick Gerhardt clearly overran the third attempt.
Even after the break, both teams found it extremely difficult on the offensive, great chances were extremely rare in a game characterized by intensity. After VfL lost the ball, Silva put the ball on for Kevin Kampl (69′), but Casteels deflected the shot from 18 meters to a corner. Orban did better, who headed the ball over the line after hitting the crossbar by Silva. Gvardiol’s goal was initially disallowed for offside, but the video assistant reversed that decision.