VfL Wolfsburg’s Diego scored twice after missing a penalty to earn a 2-1 win over Bundesliga bottom side Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday and end his team’s four-game losing streak as they fight to stay up.
The Brazilian, who got a one-game ban earlier this month for defying team orders and taking a penalty which he missed, again fired his spot-kick over the bar in the 29th minute, but he quickly made amends, finishing off a swift move from close range seven minutes later and then curling in a spectacular 25m free-kick just before the break.
“It was a special game for me because I first missed the penalty,” playmaker Diego told reporters. “I want to thank my teammates, who had faith in me after the penalty.”
The visitors were given more space in the second half as Wolfsburg pulled back and they cut the deficit in the 74th minute when Filip Daems converted a penalty.
’Gladbach then missed several good chances to level as Wolfsburg hung on for their only second win in their last 14 games and the first under coach Pierre Littbarski, who replaced former England manager Steve McClaren earlier this month.
Wolfsburg moved up to 26 points, three above the relegation playoff spot, with ’Gladbach anchored in last place on 19.
League leaders Borussia Dortmund, 10 points clear at the top, were scheduled to visit third-placed Bayern Munich yesterday, while Bayer Leverkusen, in second on 45 points, travel to Werder Bremen today.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
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