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Strongly defended again: Wolfsburg's Maxence Lacroix wins the header duel against Gladbach's Lars Stindl
Photo: Swen Pförtner / dpa
VfL Wolfsburg is still promising in the battle for the Champions League places, but cannot stand out from the competition in the Bundesliga: In the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, temperatures of up to 15 degrees below zero resulted in a 0: 0.
From the start the game was characterized by the good defensive organization of both teams.
Wolfsburg seemed to be able to gain slight advantages at the beginning: Kevin Mbabu failed with his head on the strongly reacting Yann Sommer in Gladbacher Tor (7th minute), the keeper of the guests also parried a long-range shot by Xaver Schlager (29th).
Wout Weghorst, Wolfsburg's only goal scorer at 1-1 in the first leg, slipped away in a promising position when attempting to shoot - a hit would not have counted anyway due to an offside position.
The Gladbachers got into the game better in the course of the first half and had a few scenes in which they got at least close to the goal through a quick switch game.
There, however, they were put under so much pressure by VfL Wolfsburg, which has the second best defensive record in the league after RB Leipzig with only 19 goals conceded, that top-class opportunities failed to materialize.
Valentino Lazaro still had the best chance, his shot attempt went through the Wolfsburg goal (41st).
Wolfsburg has a chance, nobody has the final luck
Wolfsburg had better opportunities to win in the second half: John Anthony Brooks headed just wide after a corner kick (62nd), Mbabu failed to Sommer (72nd).
Schlager hit the side netting in stoppage time.
However, the Gladbachers no longer did the VfL the favor of making a decisive mistake in defense.
Due to the draw, Wolfsburg is in fourth place in the table with 39 points, tied with Eintracht Frankfurt in third place.
Oliver Glasner's team has been unbeaten in seven league games, most recently not conceding a goal five times.
Gladbach remains in the field of pursuers with 33 points and occupies seventh place.
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