Borussia Monchengladbach's 100% home record came to an end against Wolfsburg on Sunday with a thrilling 2-2 draw at Borussia-Park.
After a goalless first half Diego broke the deadlock with a poked finish eight minutes into the second period but Wolfsburg were pegged back before the hour through Raffael's superb strike.
Juan Arango then put the hosts ahead with a brilliant free kick before Bas Dost snatched a point for the visitors, finishing from close range after Luis Gustavo's shot was saved.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary below.
Hello Bundesliga fans! The winter break is unfortunately almost upon us, but not before what for me is the clash of the weekend - Gladbach vs. Wolfsburg.
Two of the form sides in the league clash here this afternoon. We have Gladbach who, aside from Bayern Munich, have the best home record. They can match the champions, however, if they win here and make it nine from nine. Wolfsburg, with six wins from eight, are bearing down in them in the table.
This will surely be an exciting game to end the first half of the league season on a high. Bayern, even with a game in hand, are romping it as expected, but these two teams are certainly in the hunt for Champions League football.
Right, let's take a look at the two teams this afternoon...
GLADBACH XI: Ter Stegen; Korb, Jantschke, Stranzl, Wendt; Kramer, Xhaka; Herrmann, Raffael, Arango; Kruse
WOLFSBURG XI: Benaglio; Ochs, Knoche, Naldo, Rodriguez; Gustavo, Medojevic; Arnold, Diego, Caligiuri; Olic
Gladbach subs: Helmeroth, Brouwers, Daems, Marx, Younes, De Jong, Hrgota
Wolfsburg subs: Grun, Klose, Perisic, Koo, Schafer, Evseev, Dost
So it's largely as you might expect from both coaches. Luuk de Jong must continue to wait for a chance to play as he is behind the impressive Max Kruse. With Raffael in behind him flanked by Patrick Herrmann and Juan Arango this is a very strong home attack with goals in it for sure.
Wolfsburg also have a huge amount of attacking talent on display. Diego has recently returned to provide the focal point going forward and they have an excellent balance with Ivica Olic roaming ahead of him. Coach Dieter Hecking has gone for Daniel Caligiuri on the left over both Marcel Schafer and Ivan Perisic.
A look at the odds tells us that Gladbach's home record makes them slight favourites tonight, but Wolfsburg's unbeaten run of eight games certainly comes into the thinking. It's 13/10 for the hosts and 5/2 for the visitors. I can see a draw, perhaps 1-1. That result is 13/2.
There's a lot of debris that is having to be cleared before we get underway...
KICKOFF: Here we go then, the hosts get us underway.
Both sides are passing well early on. The ball is staying on the ground but we haven't had a shot yet. It's tentative, but confident from both teams.
Both these teams play a similar pressing style when off the ball, and at the moment they are struggling against it when getting into their opponent's half. Both goalkeepers have been utilised on a number of occasions as an extra man to keep possession.
Raffael, Korb and Herrmann try to work some space on the right side but the latter is beaten to the ball by Rodriguez and then pulls the shirt of the Wolfsburg man to give away a free kick.
It's a similar story a couple of minutes later as a cross from the right is deflected and then Luis Gustavo looks to bring it clear. However, Arango is in and is then penalised for a foul on the former Bayern man. It was a soft call, but just a little overenthusiastic from the wide man.
Gladbach are just about on top, in that they are seeing most of the ball. However, Wolfsburg are being very solid at the back. Herrmann does really well on the right to skin Rodriguez and put in a cross, but Ochs is across really well to clear for a throw.
CHANCE! Best chance of the game so far. Wolfsburg don't properly clear the corner and Xhaka has a chance with a snap-shot, but his effort cannot get through a wall of green shirts blocking his path to goal.
Ropey clearance there from Stranzl, who manages to hack over his own bar from a deep cross. No-one was waiting to turn it in, but he had to do something with it. I think he'd rather it went away from goal than over his own bar, though.
Still no really good chance as yet. Herrmann gives the ball away in a rare Gladbach mistake, before he tracks back to bring down the Wolfsburg man. Dangerous position here to swing a free kick in.
It's Raffael's turn to give the ball away as the hosts looked to break. Wolfsburg now with a lot of the ball, but Ochs's cross from deep is overhit and Caligiuri is unable to keep it in on the other side.
MISS! Olic has to score! He's in behind following a one-two on the corner of the box with Caligiuri, but his shot with the outside of his boot rolls wide. He has to at least test Ter Stegen there!
SAVE! First hint of the threat of Diego there. Caligiuri tackled Raffael and then found the Brazilian, who drove forward and shot, but it was a comfortable height for Ter Stegen to turn around the post. Wolfsburg are well on top now.
Gladbach appear to have ridden the pressure from the away side and are now seeing a bit more of the ball. Has Wolfsburg's chance to take the lead gone?
SAVES! Diego is being given far too much room in the middle. He has the time to look up and ping left to Olic, whose shot is straight at Ter Stegen but he cannot gather. Arnold comes in for the rebound and Ter Stegen stops that one with his legs. The keeper has escaped there!
MISS! Unbelievable miss! Raffael plays Herrmann in down the left, who has Kruse in the middle but it may have come at the striker a little quicker than he was expecting and he turned it over from about six yards. Still, he should be scoring that.
SAVE! Really strong goalkeeping from Benaglio, who used his pace to good effect. Herrmann again on the left threads a ball to Raffael, who just sees the away keeper dive at his feet to gather. Good keeping.
GOAL DISALLOWED! I don't know why, but Caligiuri has just had a goal ruled out! He - somewhat fortunately - bundled his way through the box and fired a shot under Ter Stegen, but the referee blew his whistle for something! It might have been handball as he got through - if so it seems harsh to me.
The Wolves have certainly been the better team so far, as Caligiuri tests Ter Stegen from range. The keeper again spills it, but is able to gather this time. I've not been convinced by Ter Stegen so far.
Raffael is finding a bit of space on the right, but after cutting into the box the goal is gaping and he somehow manages to trip himself up trying to get it back on to his right foot.
Chance for Wendt to cross there. He plays a one-two with Arango, but cannot turn the ball back to a white shirt from the byline. Gladbach are finishing the half strongly - is there time for a goal?
HALF TIME: Gladbach 0-0 Wolfsburg
So that's the end of the first half and really Wolfsburg will be wondering how they aren't ahead. Gladbach's 100% home record is under severe threat here if they don't pick up in the second 45.
The away side have had a goal ruled out for offside, which having seen a couple of replays was actually a very good decision for handball against Caligiuri. They have also tested Ter Stegen from range a few times - the home keeper has not looked comfortable handling it today.
Gladbach have played some good football, but it's just the final pass or cross that has been lacking. On a number of occasions Wendt and Herrmann have had the opportunity to cross but have not found their man. On the one occasion Herrmann did find Kruse, the striker blazed over from close.
Hecking will not want to change anything at the break, certainly. His team talk will be about getting the players to keep it up. If they do, they should win, especially if Diego is given the same amount of space he has been.
We are back underway here then. I'd be surprised if this ended 0-0, but you just never know.
BOOKING: Ochs picks up his fifth yellow card, which means he will now have a longer break than most. He held on to Arango as the hosts looked to break and gets booked for it.
Ochs then miscontrols right up the field as Wolfsburg looked to create a chance. There have been no chances yet in the second period.
GOAL! Gladbach 0-1 Wolfsburg (Diego)
That's a lovely little finish from the Brazilian as he was slipping. The cross came in from the left from Rodriguez and it's not cleared before falling to Diego, who takes a touch before toe-poking it into the bottom corner. Wolfsburg have their deserved lead.
BOOKING: The goalscorer goes into the book and I've seen reds given for that! He goes in studs up on Wendt, whose lack of complaining there has probably saved Diego. Awful challenge.
It's better from the hosts as they work space for Kruse to shoot. However, his effort from just outside the box goes straight at Benaglio. He was trying to curl it into the corner, but didn't get the right angle on it.
GOAL! Gladbach 1-1 Wolfsburg (Raffael)
What a goal from Raffael! He picks up the ball about 35 yards out, shifts to pass but carries on to take it round two players and get into the box. And then the finish - from the right side he smashes it into the far corner - unstoppable.
CLOSE! It could be 2-1! Raffael finds himself in the box and just as he tries to shoot Naldo gets in enough of a challenge to put him off and the ball flies over.
GOAL! Gladbach 2-1 Wolfsburg (Juan Arango)
Arango has just bettered Raffael's! The Venezuelan steps up to take a free kick some 30 yards from goal and to the right side. It doesn't phase him as he smashes the ball into the near top corner to leave Benaglio with no chance. Brilliant.
It's getting feisty on the sidelines and on the pitch after the goal. Diego attempts a free kick of his own wide on the left, but it's headed behind for a corner.
SAVE! That shouuld probably be the cushion for Gladbach. Raffael pings over the top to Herrmann on the right, whose cutback finds Kramer. The midfielder dummies well to get clear but that's a fine stop by Benaglio to his right.
WOLFSBURG SUB: Medojevic is off for Ivan Perisic. That will be more directness now from the visitors.
BOOKING: Caligiuri is brought down by Wendt and he can have no complaints at that. This is a dangerous area for a free kick to the right of the box.
It does feel like there's another goal in this one, but it's not clear who for. Gladbach are just about on top at the moment and they'll want a third until this feels comfortable.
SAVE! Caligiuri fouls Wendt, but the referee plays on, but Kruse's shot from an angle in the box gets a touch over the bar from Benaglio. Good save. Caligiuri then goes into the book for his foul and Dost comes on for Olic.
Gladbach have been a lot better since going behind, almost as if it helped them more than Wolfsburg. The hosts have shaded the possession and have also had more shots this half.
Wayward effort from Kruse, who is allowed a bit of selfishness every now and then after his tireless play so far.
GOAL! Gladbach 2-2 Wolfsburg (Bas Dost)
That's why Dost is on the pitch. Caligiuri's shot is deflected to Gustavo, who shoots at Ter Stegen, but the ball falls for Dost to fire into the empty net. That's 2-2.
SUBS: Koo comes on for Caligiuri and Hrgota is on for Herrmann as both coaches go for what would surely be a winning goal.
Arango goes for goal again, this time from a more central position. He got it over the wall but it was always curling wide.
There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of this one. Both sides still want the winner.
The late pressure is coming from the visitors, but Arango does well tracking back to win the ball and clear.
FULL TIME: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-2 Wolfsburg
So Gladbach's 100% record comes to an end after a cracker of a game - which was expected. Both these sides are pressing for the Champions League and it is clear why.
That's all from me. That brings the first half of the Bundesliga to an end. There will be more action after the winter break with the next weekend starting on the last Friday of January. From here, goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
