Bundesliga
Guilavogui and Weghorst fire Wolfsburg past Stuttgart
Josuha Guilavogui and Wout Weghorst were among the goals as Wolfsburg beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0 at the Volkswagen Arena on Tuesday evening, picking up their fifth win in six in the process.
Goals: 1-0 Guilavogui, 2-0 Weghorst (44’)
Wolfsburg began the day eight points and seven places better off than their relegation-threatened visitors, and were on the front foot early on, with Maximilian Arnold drawing a pair of saves from Ron-Robert Zieler with wicked shots from the edge of the Stuttgart box. Stuttgart’s defence buckled before the first half hour was out, with Arnold turning provider for Guilavogui, who headed home his fellow midfielder’s free-kick for his first goal since May. The Wolves then carried a two-goal lead into the interval after Weghorst steered the ball low past Zieler, despite suspicions that Yannick Gerhardt had been offside in the build-up.
Weghorst came close to doubling his tally at the start of the second half, but after getting on the end of Gerhardt’s cutback he fired straight at Zieler. Admir Mehmedi though he’d earned a penalty from Zieler soon after, but referee Robert Hartmann waved play on. Stuttgart – armed with second-half substitutes Erik Thommy and Daniel Didavi – put together some better chances in the final half hour, with Mario Gomez unlucky to see an effort cannon back off the Wolfsburg defence, but ultimately there was no way through and it ended 2-0.
Match stats
- Guilavogui – who missed much of the season so far with injury – scored his first goal since Wolfsburg’s 4-1 win over Cologne in May.
- Weghorst has scored six goals since his summer arrival from AZ Alkmaar.
- Wolfsburg already have more victories this season (seven) than they managed in the whole of the previous campaign (six).
- The Wolves have never lost in 12 home meetings with Stuttgart, winning 10 and drawing the other two.
- Wolves coach Bruno Labbadia was in the Stuttgart dugout from the end of 2010 until August 2013, and led them into the UEFA Europa League in 2012/13.
- Kept quiet today, former Wolfsburg striker Gomez had previously scored 13 goals in 31 games since returning to Stuttgart in January.
Line-ups
Wolfsburg: Casteels – William, Knoche, Brooks, Roussillon (Uduokhai 72’) – Gerhardt, Guilavogui (c), Arnold (Rexhbecaj 79’) – Mehmedi (Steffen 84’) – Ginczek, Weghorst
Unused subs: Pervan, Verhaegh, Malli, Klaus
Out: Camacho (ankle)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia
Stuttgart: Zieler – Aidonis (Dajaku 85'), Baumgartl, Kempf – Akolo (Didavi 54’), Gentner (c), Ascacibar, Insua – Donis (Thommy 46’), Gomez, Gonzalez
Unused subs: Grahl, Castro, Sosa, Sarpei
Out: Özcan (ankle), Pavard (thigh), Badstuber (calf), Maffeo (ankle)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl