Wolfsburg trumps: after victory in Malmö in the round of 16

The respect for the appearance in Malmö, Sweden was there, but with a brave appearance VfL Wolfsburg eliminated the doubts about progressing in the Europa League. Now fans can look forward to an appointment this Friday.

Malmö (dpa) - With a courageous and sometimes glamorous away appearance in the second half, VfL Wolfsburg has deservedly reached the round of 16 of the Europa League.

The Bundesliga soccer team won 3: 0 (1: 0) at the Swedish record champions Malmö FF and so confidently survived the intermediate round. The Lower Saxony had won the first leg 2-1 a week earlier. Josip Brekalo (42nd minute), Yannick Gerhardt (65th) and João Victor (69th) scored the goals for VfL, which has been in the top 16 of a European competition for the first time since 2016. The next opponent will be determined the next day from 1 p.m. in the draw in Nyon.

In the atmospheric, narrow and noisy stadium in Malmö, coach Oliver Glasner's team took up the fight right at the start. Despite the success in the first leg, Glasner had positioned himself aggressively, and his team performed accordingly: Wolfsburg always disturbed the Malmö players early in the game and tried to find their way forward. The first conclusion belonged to the guests: Admir Mehmedi came from the penalty area to the shot, but aimed clearly too high (6th).

The wolves did well until the sixteenth. Little happened in front of the Malmö goal, but at least Wolfsburg kept the hosts from home town away from football icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a long time from their own penalty area. A too high header and an attempt from an acute angle by Marcus Antonsson - the team of coach Jon Dahl Tomasson had nothing more to offer in the first half.

For this, VfL struck: Brekalo played a one-two with center forward Wout Weghorst and then circled the ball placed in the right corner. The goal did not count due to an alleged offside position by Weghorst, but was then given after the video assistant had been used.

Shortly after the break, Xaver Schlager could have added, but the Austrian shot free-standing from five meters over the goal (50th). The game became more restless. Malmo dared more, became more offensive, but was too uncreative in the front to be really dangerous.

Wolfsburg played much more determined: A tight long-range shot from Maximilian Arnold flew just a few centimeters past the post (61 '). Gerhardt made it better shortly thereafter: After Mehmedi had failed a few seconds earlier to Malmo goalkeeper Johan Dahlin, the 25-year-old threw the ball worth seeing and unsustainable to the decision in the left corner. When João Victor increased to 3-0 a short time later after a nice combination of close distance, the party mood in the Wolfsburg fan block was perfect. "Oh, how nice that is," sang the supporters who were traveling and were already looking forward to the next European Cup night.

Information about the game Malmo - Wolfsburg

Information about the Europa League

News about VfL Wolfsburg

The VfL Wolfsburg squad

Tomasson interview at goal.com