VfL Wolfsburg could only manage a 0-0 draw against SC Paderborn in the first leg of the Bundesliga relegation playoff. The return fixture on Whit Monday will decide their top-flight survival.
In front of 27,800 spectators in the sold-out Volkswagen Arena, Bundesliga side Wolfsburg appeared nervous and lacked penetration. Paderborn defended with discipline and created the first big chance through Santiago Castañeda in the ninth minute.
Wolfsburg’s best opportunities were wasted by Denis Vavro and Adam Daghim. Late on, the Wolves’ defence cleared Filip Bilbija’s effort off the line. Paderborn’s Jonah Sticker received a yellow-red card in stoppage time.
After the match, Wolfsburg’s Yannick Gerhardt stressed: “Now we have a final on Monday.” Paderborn captain Laurin Curda also called it a “final game” and urged his team to give everything in the return leg.
