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Josip Brekalo's free kick was deflected twice
Photo: Cathrin Müller / imago images / Pressefoto Baumann
At Christmas, VfL Wolfsburg can dream of the Champions League.
Josip Brekalo ensured the 1-0 (0-0) victory against VfB Stuttgart with a deflected free kick.
With the three points, Wolfsburg (24 points) overtook Borussia Dortmund (22) in the Bundesliga table and is now fourth.
The Bundesliga year ended with the 13th matchday, after the Christmas break the season continues at the beginning of January - then Wolfsburg will play for BVB (January 3rd).
VfL Wolfsburg had to start weakened.
Before the game, the club had announced that Maximilian Arnold and Jérôme Roussillon had tested positive for the corona virus.
In addition, Maximilian Philipp and Xaver Schlager were identified as contact persons.
The four professionals were all regular players recently.
They are now in quarantine, it said.
Coach Oliver Glasner had to reorganize his team, including captain Josuha Guilavogui and starting eleven Bartosz Bialek.
Wolfsburg started with more train to the gate.
The first upset of the game came when Ridle Baku knocked Stuttgart's Nicolás González over in the penalty area and referee Florian Badstübner did not give a penalty - a debatable decision (9th).
Yannick Gerhardt had the first big chance for Wolfsburg: First he failed from close range to goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, then in the second attempt with a head on the outside post (12th).
Stuttgart waited longer for a conclusion, Silas Wamangituka pushed the ball just past the goal after a counterattack (24th).
However, Wolfsburg remained the more dangerous team.
Gerhardt cheered after a header hit, the referee did not give the goal because of a previous foul by Bialek (30th).
Brekalo scores and must be replaced
The lead then fell shortly after the break: Josip Brekalo shot Stuttgart's Orel Mangala with his free kick, the ball bounced from Mangala to Wamangituka, who unfortunately deflected it into his own goal (49th).
Shortly afterwards a moment of shock: Brekalo was struggling for breath after a duel, had to be treated and finally replaced.
But he was able to leave the place independently (60th).
Stuttgart pushed for the equalizer, but González missed the great opportunity: After Roberto Massimo's pass into the penalty area, the attacker put the ball free-standing next to the goal (70th).
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