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VfL Wolfsburg delivered a devastating first-half masterclass to dismantle Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 at Borussia-Park, turning defensive solidity into attacking ruthlessness.
Patrick Wimmer proved the difference-maker with a stunning brace, first striking in the 4th minute to set the tone for Wolfsburg’s dominance. The Austrian forward caught Gladbach cold, capitalizing on sharp buildup play to give the visitors an early advantage.
The home side’s misery compounded in the 22nd minute when Konstantinos Koulierakis turned the ball into his own net under pressure, doubling Wolfsburg’s lead. Just eight minutes later, Mohamed Amoura made it three with a clinical finish, leaving Gladbach shell-shocked. Wimmer completed his brace in the 34th minute, though VAR would later disallow what seemed a fourth Wolfsburg goal in the 64th minute, ruling Lovro Majer offside.
Despite controlling 58% possession and registering 14 shots, Gladbach’s attacking output remained toothless. The xG statistics told the story—Wolfsburg’s 1.80 compared to Gladbach’s meager 0.66 highlighted the efficiency gap. Coach adjustments saw Gio Reyna and Jan Castrop introduced on 57 minutes, followed by Luca Netz and Shoya Machino, but the changes couldn’t spark a comeback. Haris Tabakovic thought he’d pulled one back in the 72nd minute, only for VAR to deny him for offside.
Wolfsburg goalkeeper made four crucial saves, while his backline recorded 39 effective clearances—nearly double Gladbach’s 21—to preserve the comfortable margin. Majer’s yellow card in the 28th minute was the only blemish on an otherwise disciplined away performance.
Wimmer’s withdrawal in the 69th minute earned a standing ovation as Wolfsburg managed the game professionally, with late substitutions preserving energy for upcoming fixtures. The convincing victory showcased Wolfsburg’s counter-attacking prowess against a possession-heavy opponent.
