Wolfsburg's winless run ends against Greuther Fürth

Wolfsburg 4-1 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 1-0 Vranckx (7'), 1-1 Hrgota (pen. 44'), 2-1 Vranckx (49'), 3-1 Arnold (70'), 4-1 Philipp (75')

Seeking to address a troubling run of form that saw them descend into a fight for their Bundesliga survival, Wolfsburg made some important moves in the winter transfer window. Prizing the in-form Max Kruse from Union Berlin back to the Volkswagen Arena was one of those changes and the 33-year-old was soon menacing at his 2015/16 playground once again. Heavily involved in the Wolves' seventh-minute opener, Kruse's influence was telling with Vranckx eventually slotting home after Renato Steffen's cross-shot deflected back off the post. It was a blow for a Fürth side dreaming of a great escape after their recent run of four games without a loss, a Bundesliga first for the Clover Leaves. The basement boys' hopes were revived just before the break, however, when Branimir Hrgota scored from the penalty spot after Sebastiaan Bornauw was adjudged to have fouled Jeremy Dudziak.

Winless in their eleven previous games in all competitions, the Wolves went into this one having failed to score in 405 minutes. Florian Kohfeldt's side, having shaken off one of those unwanted statistics in the first half, were on their way to addressing both not long after the restart. After Fürth keeper Sascha Burchert's attempt at a punched clearance landed at the feet of the grateful Vranckx, the midfielder smashed home with glee for 2-1. Their tails now up, the Wolves moved in for the kill. To the delight of the home contingent, Arnold's deflected free kick found the net after 70 minutes while another deflection would help to seal the deal soon afterwards, Maximilian Philipp's shot from distance profiting from a nick off Hrgota.

Watch: Jonas Wind on that winning feeling

• With this victory, Wolfsburg celebrated their 200th Bundesliga win.
• For the first time in exactly 3 months, during which time they were 11 games without a win in all competitions, Wolfsburg emerged with maximum points.
• Vranckx is the first player to register a double for the Wolves this season.
• Kohfeldt's team have conceded seven penalties this term, a club record after 21 games.
• This was Fürth's first defeat in 2022.
• Hrgota and Nikola Djurdjic are Fürth's all-time leading Bundesliga scorers with five goals apiece.
• As many as four of Hrgota's five goals this season have come from the penalty spot.

Wolfsburg: Casteels (c) - Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks (van de Ven 85') - Baku, Vranckx, Arnold, Gerhardt (Philipp 65') - Kruse (Waldschmidt 83'), Steffen (Roussillon 65') - Wind (Bialek 65')
Unused subs: Pervan, F. Nmecha, Lukebakio, Paredes
Out: L. Nmecha (ankle), Otavio (knee), Schlager (knee), William (knee)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Fürth: Burchert - Asta, Griesbeck, Viergever, Willems (Itter 79') - Seguin, Christiansen (Raschl 71'), Tillman (Green 85') - Dudziak (Nielsen 71') - Leweling, Hrgota (c) (Abiama 79')
Unused subs: Linde, Bauer, Pululu, Jung
Out: Funk (knee), Kehr (knee), Ngankam (knee)
Coach: Stefan Leitl