VfL Wolfsburg are on the verge of exiting the Europa League after losing 4-1 at home to Napoli in the quarter-final first leg on Thursday evening. It will be a real challenge for Wolfsburg to overcome the deficit in the return leg on the 23rd April.
In front of 25,112 spectators, Wolfsburg underwhelmed and were almost unrecognisable in comparison to their recent Bundesliga performances. They didn’t threaten in attack and were vulnerable in defence, deserving to be behind at the break.
A mix-up between Robin Knoche and Ricardo Rodriguez allowed Higuaín to fire the visitors in front with the first chance of the game; however, there was suspicion of the Argentine controlling the ball with his upper arm. He almost doubled Napoli’s advantage moments after but Diego Benaglio made a smart save. Hamsik did make it 2-0 a little later on, slotting home after getting on the end of Higuaín’s defence-splitting pass.
Benaglio was definitely the busier of the two keepers as Napoli dominated the game. He denied Hamsik from bagging his second of the game shortly before half-time. World Champion André Schürrle rattled the crossbar in added time in what was the host’s best effort of the match.
No improvement in second half
Wolfsburg weren’t much better after the restart. Higuaín had another great opening after the break but this time the Swiss goalkeeper came out on top. The hosts were unable to find a way past their superior opponents.
Midway through the second half Wolfsburg tried to put the visitors under more pressure but they failed to carve out a clear goal scoring opportunity. The visitors were clinical and punished Josuha Guilavogui’s mistake to increase their lead. Despite Bendtner pulling a goal back, Wolfsburg will need a miracle in the return leg after Gabbiadini headed home to make it 4-1.
VfL Wolfsburg are on the verge of exiting the Europa League after losing 4-1 at home to Napoli in the quarter-final first leg on Thursday evening. It will be a real challenge for Wolfsburg to overcome the deficit in the return leg on the 23rd April.
In front of 25,112 spectators, Wolfsburg underwhelmed and were almost unrecognisable in comparison to their recent Bundesliga performances. They didn’t threaten in attack and were vulnerable in defence, deserving to be behind at the break.
A mix-up between Robin Knoche and Ricardo Rodriguez allowed Higuaín to fire the visitors in front with the first chance of the game; however, there was suspicion of the Argentine controlling the ball with his upper arm. He almost doubled Napoli’s advantage moments after but Diego Benaglio made a smart save. Hamsik did make it 2-0 a little later on, slotting home after getting on the end of Higuaín’s defence-splitting pass.
Benaglio was definitely the busier of the two keepers as Napoli dominated the game. He denied Hamsik from bagging his second of the game shortly before half-time. World Champion André Schürrle rattled the crossbar in added time in what was the host’s best effort of the match.
No improvement in second half
Wolfsburg weren’t much better after the restart. Higuaín had another great opening after the break but this time the Swiss goalkeeper came out on top. The hosts were unable to find a way past their superior opponents.
Midway through the second half Wolfsburg tried to put the visitors under more pressure but they failed to carve out a clear goal scoring opportunity. The visitors were clinical and punished Josuha Guilavogui’s mistake to increase their lead. Despite Bendtner pulling a goal back, Wolfsburg will need a miracle in the return leg after Gabbiadini headed home to make it 4-1.
