Wolfsburg continued their excellent run of form with a 2-0 win away to Freiburg, who remain without a home victory this season.
The visitors started really well with a high-tempo, high-pressing game too much for Freiburg early on. Goals from Maximilan Arnold and then Ivan Perisic put them into a deserved lead.
Freiburg improved after the break, but Wolfsburg wrapped up the points late on through substitute Marcel Schafer.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon everyone. The Bundesliga weekend continues right here and we have a double-header of commentaries for you. First up is Freiburg vs. Wolfsburg.
It is about time Freiburg started to show the form that managed to get them into the Europa League last season. They have been better away from home but quite miserable at Mage Solar Stadion, where they are yet to win.
Which, of course, explains why there are in such a lowly league position. In a relegation battle, home form is vital. They are, however, up against a team on a very good run of form in the Bundesliga.
Wolfsburg are sixth and on a six-game unbeaten run. They of course must always come to an end (unless you are Bayern Munich...) but it would be a surprise if that happens tonight, in my opinion.
Right then, next thing I'll get the team news right over to you. One moment...
FREIBURG XI: Baumann; Sorg, Diagne, Hohn, Gunter; Ginter, Hofler; Coquelin, Fernandes, Darida; Mehmedi
WOLFSBURG XI: Benaglio; Ochs, Naldo, Knoche, Rodriguez; Luiz Gustavo, Medojevic; Perisic, Arnold, Caligiuri; Olic
Diego remains out for the visitors, but a player I do like to watch Ivan Perisic is named in the XI. He will get forward at any opportunity from the left wing and does have a good understanding with Ivica Olic, who is a mainstay up front.
Freiburg, looking at their team, do not have the firepower to test WOlfsburg enough for my liking. Admir Mehmedi is more of a striker who likes to be involved with play and while there's plenty of movement in the attacking four the Wolfsburg defence, marshalled by Gustavo, is very strong.
PREDICTION: So with a few minutes to go until we get started, what do I think about the outcome? To be honest, I can't see many goals, especially not from the hosts and this could be a narrow 1-0 away win. I am of course hoping for a goalfest!
KICKOFF: We're underway here then in front of a lively crowd.
It's a very neat pitch here for what should be a game involving plenty of passing football. Wolfsburg have seen most of the ball in the opening exchanges. Perisic throws to Olic, who overhits a cross and Freiburg can now look to get into the game. Gustavo gives it away to Sorg, but his pass to Mehmedi is overhit and goes out of play.
Freiburg now have got themselves a bit of possession. They are being pressed very high up, which is typical of Wolfsburg, and are being rushed on the ball a lot as they get into the visitors' half. Mehmedi is running the channels well, but there's a lack of support in the box early on.
It's very tactical at the moment, with neither side able to find much space in the attacking third. Wolfsburg have been sloppy on a couple of times, but Naldo does really well to recover as Darida looked to break from midfield.
GOAL! Freiburg 0-1 Wolfsburg (Maximilian Arnold)
Scrap everything I just said! Arnold opens the scoring but omst of the credit should go to Ochs. He's not closed down on the right which allows him to put a pinpoint cross into the six yard box for Arnold to poke out a foot and put his side ahead.
GOAL! Freiburg 0-2 Wolfsburg (Ivica Olic)
This could be it! Arnold is involved again as he puts Gustavo away on the right of the box. He cuts back to Olic on the edge of the six yard box and he cannot miss. Freiburg have absolutely no answer at the back!
If not for an Olic slip after being found again by Arnold it could well be 3-0! Freiburg seriously have to sort themselves out, and quickly. If they don't get the next goal then they might as well go home I think.
Another chance, but this time only half of one. Sorg makes a mistake which allows Arnold a lot of space around 25 yards out, but his shot is low and comfortable for Baumann. Freiburg are showing no signs of getting back into this.
Arnold is having a rest as Perisic is starting to come into it now. He doesn't quite have the pace down the left to beat Hohn, who recovers well to clear it behind for a corner.
Still Wolfsburg come forward and they win another corner courtesy of Arnold on the right. Remember, this is a Wolfsburg side missing Diego and Vieirinha - they have been excellent so far.
FREIBURG SUB: Amazingly, it's time for a change. Krmas is on for poor old Fallou Diagne.
CHANCE! It could be 3-0 there as Medojevic drives down the right but puts his low shot just wide from a narrow angle. Decent effort. Freiburg score up the other end, but there was an offside against Mehmedi.
Freiburg now are coming into it a bit more. The crowd want a free kick as Fernandes looks to be brought down, but nothing given. It comes to Sorg on the right, whose shot is comfortable for Benaglio and probably going wide anyway.
Freiburg are only really threatening down the right, and threatening is not really quite the word. Darida combines with Mehmedi, but his cross is cleared and the danger has gone.
That's a bit of a nasty high boot from Perisic on the left there on Fernandes. Fortunately he didn't make contact with the Swiss's face, but I think there would have been blood if he had!
SAVE! Good stop there from the home keeper. Arnold has options to his left and right as he has the ball just outside the box. He opts to shoot low and hard and Baumann does well to turn it around the post.
BOOKING: Ochs deservedly gets a yellow card for bringing down Mehmedi late. He doesn't complain.
Ginter is taken out by Medojevic. It looked a bit nasty on first view, but it wasn't dnagerous. He escapes a booking and the free kick is headed away. Freiburg have not threatened from set pieces so far.
Wolfsburg are pressing right up to Baumann and it has been so effective so far. Olic is then played through beating the offside trap, but after cutting on to his left the shot is blocked.
Wolfsburg are finishing the half as strongly as they have been throughout. Olic was obstructed by Hohn as he went past him. Dangerous free kick on the left side.
CLOSE! It's indirect so after a touch Naldo tries to bend it into the far corner and it ends just a few inches wide. Fine effort.
HALF TIME: Freiburg 0-2 Wolfsburg
It's so far, so good for Wolfsburg then and it's very hard to see the hosts getting back into this one. They have been outplayed in all areas and rather than getting back in it are fortunate not to be more behind.
Really the hosts have been an absolute shambles at the back, but there has definitely been a strong sense of Wolfsburg being brilliant in attack. Arnold in particular found space all over the final third and has been the best player so far.
I'm not quite sure whether Freiburg have it in them to get back in this, but what they need to do is abundantly clear. They have to be much, much tighter at the back and could really do with Mehmedi pushing slightly higher up rather than getting involved in play quite so much.
The players are coming back out now for the second half. There has already been a change from the hosts, and they did improve slightly after it. Will there be another at the break?
Here we go then for the second half. No changes at the break. No change on the pitch either, as a poor piece of control from Darida gives away a throw.
This does not look good for Francis Coquelin. He hasn't done a lot so far, but he's down and a stretcher is coming on. He turned on the ball and his ankle seemed to turn from under him. He'll be very lucky if that's not at least a sprain.
CHANCE! Big early chance in the half for the hosts. The ball is played into Hofler, who gets nowhere near enough contact on the ball and his effort is easy for Benaglio.
Sebastian Kerk, by the way, came on for Freiburg following the injury to Coquelin.
It's becoming quite end-to-end at the moment, and Freiburg are certainly playing far better than they were in the first half. If they'd started like this they wouldn't be 2-0 down!
I think that's a bit selfish from Olic at first glance as he looked as though he'd shot from a narrow angle. He actually tried to cut it back and wins the fifth corner for his side in the process.
Neither side is in control at the moment but the home fans definitely sense something as they are seeing effort from their team. They are cheering them on - they are certainly not out of this with 30 minutes to play.
Freiburg are having more shots, but they are not creating good enough chances to score. Hofler has a lack of options so shoots from some 25 yards, but it's easily blocked. Overall Freiburg have had 58% of the ball but have been undone by a fine counter-attacking show.
Wolfsburg are trying to slow this down a little bit I think, but they have certainly not been as dangerous as the first 45. Streich is urging his side on from the sidelines - he's not given up hope just yet.
MISS! How is this not 2-1? It's a wonderful cross from Kerk right across the six yard box and Ginter on the stretch puts it over! A terrible miss, even if he was reaching for it.
Whistles for Benaglio as he takes his time over a goal kick. Mike Hanke looks to be warming up on the sidelines - that's what Freiburg have been crying out for, someone to push the Wolfsburg defence back a bit. Darida shoots from range but puts it wide. I don't think it will happen for them.
SUBS: Gustavo has taken a knock, which means that Timm Klose comes on to shore up the back line. Also a change for Freiburg with Hanke coming on for Fernandes. An attacking move.
Still Freiburg are seeing most of the ball, but despite pinging lots of crosses into the box Benaglio is looking very comfortable. Wolfsburg break and win a free kick down the right after Medojevic was clattered.
WIDE! Kerk has been very good since he has come on, but he's put a left-footed effort from the edge of the box narrowly wide. It was a good attempt, but I suspect Benaglio might have stopped it had it been on target.
Mehmedi is getting increasingly frustrated here and he concedes a foul against Arnold. On comes Marcel Schafer for Perisic, who has faded in the half.
WOLFSBURG SUB: On comes Eysev, with Arnold making way. What a performance from the 19-year-old today.
MISS! That settles it. It's not happening for Freiburg. Hanke clips a delightful ball over the top for Kerk, who completely loses his bearings and screws a shot wide. Oh dear.
There will be three minutes of time to be added on at the end of the half. Wolfsburg now keeping the ball in the corner.
GOAL! Freiburg 0-3 Wolfsburg (Marcel Schafer)
If it wasn't over, it is now. After a bustling run from Evseev ends with Schafer slamming into an empty net.
FULL TIME: Freiburg 0-3 Wolfsburg
Thanks for joining me for this comfortable Wolfsburg win. I'm back in a few minutes with Braunschweig, so keep your eyes peeled for that. From here though, it's goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
