Late Paulinho double helps Leverkusen beat Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Goal: 0-1 Paulinho (86'), 0-2 Paulinho 90+2' (assist: Demirbay)

As weeks go, Leverkusen's had been morale sapping. A home Bundesliga loss against Cologne - in which Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong suffered season-ending injuries - was followed by elimination from the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 at the hands of Atalanta. A fillip was thus required at the Volkswagen Arena, and Amine Adli looked to provide the spark. The French forward tested his range on 13 minutes before getting through on goal but firing over shortly afterwards. Having failed to beat Leverkusen in 11 previous attempts, Wolfsburg must have sensed - with their opponents on a three-match losing streak in all competitions - that now was the time to pounce. Maxi Arnold's thundering free-kick looked as if it might do the damage, until Lukas Hradecky got a crucial hand to deflect the ball onto the woodwork. Xaver Schlager then went close with a low, left-footed drive that fizzed wide while back at the other end, Sardar Azmoun - making his first B04 start - struck narrowly over.

With Gerardo Seoane's side also shorn of recovering striker Patrik Schick, much of the visitors' attacking focus fell on Moussa Diaby, he of the 12 Bundesliga goals and seven assists in 2021/22. Finally appearing unshackled at the start of the second half, the 22-year-old escaped into space down the left and provided an inviting cross for Karim Bellarabi, who lashed a shot off target. Despite suffering a 3-2 loss against Freiburg last time out, the Wolves have done well to lift themselves away from immediate relegation danger in recent weeks. Florian Kohfeldt's side looked to further aid their safety cause here, with Lukas Nmecha seeming certain to score until an untimely slip saved Die Werkself. Jonas Wind then showcased his talents with a turn and first-time shot to the far post that cannoned off the base of the upright. With such narrow margins looking set to define a game that was headed for a scoreless draw, substitute Paulinho picked up possession before slaloming through and scoring with a moving shot that wrong-footed Pavao Pervan. There was still time for another, the Rio de Janeiro native heading home from Kerem Demirbay's superb centre.

• Paulinho scored for the first time in over two years in the Bundesliga, his last goals prior to this game coming on 7 March 2020 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
• The Brazilian had two efforts at goal, and scored with both.
• Kruse made his 50th competitive appearance as a Wolfsburg player. He has registered 11 goals and 12 assists across his two spells at the club.
• The home team has not won one of the last 12 Bundesliga meetings between the sides (three draws, nine away wins).
• Leverkusen have now won as many times (14) as they did in the whole of last season.

Watch: Hradecky: "I'm happy for Paulinho"

Wolfsburg: Pervan - Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks (Bialek 88') - Mbabu (Baku 74'), Schlager (Vranckx 74'), Arnold (c), Roussillon (Gerhardt 81') - Kruse, L. Nmecha - Wind (Waldschmidt 74')
Unused subs: Klinger, Steffen, F. Nmecha, Lukebakio
Out: Casteels (hip), Otavio (knee), Philipp (ill), Van de Ven (thigh), William (knee)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Kossounou (Sinkgraven 81'), Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker (Hincapie 65') - Andrich, Demirbay - Bellarabi (Aranguiz 73'), Diaby, Adli (Paulinho 81') - Azmoun (Alario 73')
Unused subs: Grill, Lomb, Baumgartlinger, Palacios
Out: Fosu-Mensah (thigh), Frimpong (ankle), Lunev (ankle), Schick (calf), Wirtz (knee)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane

Watch: Nmecha: "We could have won, we had the better chances"