VfL Wolfsburg
| 1-0 | Rodriguez | (41. Min) |
| 2-1 | Rodriguez | (65. Min) |
| 3-1 | Schürrle | (76. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
| 1-1 | Harnik | (44. Min) |
Serey Dié
Stats 
Martin Harnik scores the equalizer.
Defeat in Wolfsburg
VfB started confidently away in Wolfsburg and created a number of goal-scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half, whilst keeping the opposition attack at bay and even managing to draw level again having gone behind. In the second half, the Cannstatt Boys were unable to prevent the onslaught of the ever-improving hosts and eventually conceded two more goals, with the game eventually ending in a 1-3 defeat.
There was an early shock for Huub Stevens and his men, with VfL Wolfsburg getting their first sight of goal after just three minutes. From a Ricardo Rodriguez corner and subsequent knock-on from Robin Knoche, Luiz Gustavo came agonisingly close to making a telling connection at the back post. As the game wore on, VfB grew in confidence, forming an impenetrable defensive line and forcing the Wolves into errors in their attempts to get forward.
VfB’s first chances of the game fell to Georg Niedermeier, from corners delivered by Alexandru Maxim. The first was nodded over by the central defender, who was then unable to make a clean connection on the second opportunity (8’ and 10’). The best chance of the first half until that point was created by Filip Kostic. The VfB winger tried his luck from the left edge of the box, but VfL keeper Diego Benaglio was equal to the effort and turned the shot away for a corner (16‘).
Christian Gentner: "In my opinion, the second goal we conceded was the breaking point for us. Until that point, we played really well, but after that, Wolfsburg were the better side. The important thing for us now will be to regain contact with the teams above us when we host Bremen next week."
Post match comments
Set-back, but immediate answer
By midway through the first period, the game dipped into a decided lull, until the 40th minute, when Florian Klein and Daniel Caligiuri clashed in the area. The Wolfsburg man went tumbling to the ground and referee Tobias Welz immediately pointed to the penalty spot, which Ricardo Rodriguez tucked away to put the hosts in front (41‘). The Cannstatt Boys immediately reacted and showed some real moral, to equalise before the break. Kostic floated in a cross to the back post for Martin Harnik to head home and level the scores – 1-1 (44’).
The second period initially produced much as the first had, with chances at both ends. Sven Ulreich was called into action to get a foot out and deny Bas Dost (48’), and soon after, the keeper was alert again to make a strong save from Daniel Caligiuri (51‘). VfB’s first chance of the second half fell to Christian Gentner, but the VfB captain could find no way past Diego Benaglio (55‘). Just shy of the hour mark, VfB missed out on a chance to take the lead, as Daniel Ginczek failed to make contact with a Kostic cross.
It was then to prove a dead-ball situation which would put the home side back in the driving seat. Swiss international Ricardo Rodriguez delivered a free-kick, which eluded friend and foe, including an attempted flick by Naldo, to beat Ulreich and make it 2-1 for VfL (65’). Ten minutes later, Wolfsburg increased their advantage through German international André Schürrle 3-1 for Wolfsburg (76‘). With their two-goal cushion, the hosts played out the tie cleverly and held onto all three points in Lower Saxony.
