Weghorst off the mark as Wolves hold Gladbach

Gladbach 1-1 Wolfsburg
Goal: 1-0 Hofmann (pen. 78'), 1-1 Weghorst (85')

The teams only had a combined seven of a possible 18 points on the board prior to kick-off and each began at breakneck pace in a bid to put that to rights. There were openings at both ends as they traded early blows, with Lars Stindl heading straight at Koen Casteels and Marcus Thuram firing into the side netting, while Maximilian Arnold tested Yann Sommer with a trademark drive. Newly capped Germany international Florian Neuhaus went closer to scoring than anyone in the first half, but his glancing header from Hofmann’s cross struck the base of the post. Weghorst had a couple of half-chances for the visitors to open his account for the season, but was unable to force a save from Sommer, before Stindl sent a stunning volley from the edge of the area wide as the teams went in goalless at the break.

The match continued to ebb and flow in the second half, although it was Wolfsburg who fashioned the clearest opportunities. Admir Mehmedi curled over after an inviting cushioned lay-off by Weghorst, and the Swiss attacker was denied by Sommer moments later following a superb shot on the turn. Arnold gave Sommer a moment of panic with a trademark stinging drive from distance that the goalkeeper was grateful to block, and he breathed another sigh of relief when Ridle Baku’s follow-up shot on the rebound fizzed wide. Yet the tide turned in Gladbach's favour against the run of play in the final quarter of an hour when Maxence Lacroix's attempted back pass was too short for Casteels, allowing Thuram to nip in and win a penalty, which Hofmann dispatched confidently. There was one final twist though, as Weghorst was in the right place at the right time to receive Baku's cross from the right, firing in the equaliser to secure a fourth straight draw for the Wolves.

• Hofmann has now scored three of the four penalties he has taken in the Bundesliga.
• His goal in the 78th minute was also Gladbach's first shot in the second half.
• Weghorst's strike was his first of the season and just the second Wolfsburg have scored in the Bundesliga in 2020/21.
• The Foals have only scored one of their five goals from open play this term; there have been two penalties and a league-high two from corners.
• Baku made his first start for Wolfsburg and grabbed his first assist for the club.

Watch: Hofmann: "Very disappointed not to win"

Gladbach: Sommer - Lainer (Jantschke 76'), Ginter, Elvedi, Wendt (Bensebaini 77') - Kramer, Neuhaus - Hofmann, Stindl (c) (Wolf 70'), Thuram (Traore 85') - Embolo (Herrmann 70')
Unused subs: Sippel, Lang, Reitz
Out: Benes (match fitness), Lazaro (match fitness), Plea (personal reasons), Poulsen (shoulder), Villalba (muscular)
Coach: Marco Rose 

Wolfsburg: Casteels - Baku, Lacroix, Brooks, Roussillon - Guilavogui (c), Arnold, Schlager (Gerhardt 46') - Mehmedi (Steffen 78'), Weghorst, Brekalo (Philipp 89')
Unused subs: Pervan, Malli, Klaus, Bialek, Marmoush, Siersleben
Out: Bruma (thigh), Mbabu (knee), Otavio (hamstring), Pongracic (glandular fever), William (knee)
Coach: Oliver Glasner