Leverkusen survive Wolfsburg’s second-half surge to seal 3-1 victory | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen needed just 45 minutes to put themselves firmly in control of their trip to Wolfsburg, producing a dominant first-half performance that showcased their attacking sharpness and composure.

Although Wolfsburg responded admirably after the break - finally showing the intensity and resolve that had been missing early on - the damage was already done. A disallowed goal spared Leverkusen from a nervous finish, and the visitors ultimately managed the game with maturity to walk away 3–1 winners.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the game between Wolfsburg and Leverkusen:

First half:

Bayer Leverkusen wasted no time asserting control at the Volkswagen Arena, dominating possession and tempo from the opening whistle. The first ten minutes felt like a statement of intent from Kasper Hjulmand’s side - calm on the ball, aggressive off it, and constantly probing for openings. It didn’t take long for the inevitable breakthrough to arrive.

Once again, it was Jonas Hofmann - enjoying something of a renaissance this season - who provided the early spark. A fluid attacking sequence began with Poku slipping Grimaldo down the flank, the Spaniard gliding toward the touchline before cutting a perfect ball into the heart of the box. Hofmann met it with trademark composure, guiding his finish into the bottom-left corner for the early lead.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, looked disengaged from the outset. The lack of urgency was visible across the pitch, and Leverkusen punished it without hesitation:

Their second goal underlined the visitors' aerial threat. After a corner was recycled and swung back into the area from distance, Edmond Tapsoba rose above a static Wolfsburg defence to nod the ball home. Suddenly, the Werkself were cruising at 0-2.

And the avalanche didn’t stop there. Leverkusen - already the league’s second most explosive attacking outfit - drew reminders of their recent 4-0 blitz of Heidenheim after just half an hour on Matchday 10. This time, it was Malik Tillman who added his name to the scoresheet, further stretching the gap to 0-3 and leaving the home side visibly shell-shocked.

With Wolfsburg offering little resistance and Leverkusen operating in full flow, the halftime score of Wolfsburg 0-3 Leverkusen felt like a fair reflection of an utterly dominant first-half performance from Hjulamand's team.

Second half:

Wolfsburg must have received quite the halftime message, because they returned to the pitch with a level of intensity completely absent from their first-half performance. The hosts pressed higher, challenged harder and immediately put Leverkusen on the back foot.

Their renewed energy paid off quickly: Vavro climbed above Tillman to win a crucial header in the box, steering the ball into the net and cutting the deficit to 1-3. The goal ignited the crowd and revived Wolfsburg’s belief that the match could still swing.

The introduction of Eriksen and Wind further elevated the hosts’ momentum. Just ten minutes into the second half, Wind appeared to have scored Wolfsburg’s second - beautifully assisted by Majer - but the celebrations were short-lived. The goal was ruled offside, a reprieve that Leverkusen would come to value.

From there, the Werkself struggled to fully rediscover the rhythm and fluency that had defined their dominant opening half. Wolfsburg continued to push, but gradually ran out of steam. As minutes passed, the visitors regained their composure, opting for control rather than risk while keeping the ball away from dangerous areas.

Wolfsburg couldn’t mount another serious threat, but their second-half display - full of resolve and aggression - stood in stark contrast to their passive opening period. Leverkusen, meanwhile, leave the VW Arena knowing they escaped a potentially complicated afternoon thanks to that offside call against Wind.

Final score: Wolfsburg 1-3 Leverkusen.