Wolfsburg recover to beat Hoffenheim

VfL Wolfsburg came from behind to inflict only the second defeat of the season on TSG 1899 Hoffenheim with a 2-1 win at the Volkswagen Arena.

Just over a year after taking charge of a relegation-threatened Hoffenheim, Julian Nagelsmann has transformed the team into one capable of challenging for Europe, and last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists Wolfsburg did not imbue any fear. Kerem Demirbay almost put the guests in front when he curled a 20-yard free-kick plum onto the crossbar in the 16th minute, before Steven Zuber provided a neat finish to Demirbay's assist ten minutes later to put Hoffenheim ahead.

Daniel Didavi and Mario Gomez both went close as the transformed hosts immediately mounted a reaction in the second half.

They were rewarded five minutes after the restart, when Maximilian Arnold's sweetly-struck volley nestled in the bottom corner. Demirbay was denied by Baumann as the game opened up, before an inspired Didavi struck from close range to earn Wolfsburg all three points.

Vincenzo Grifo stars as Freiburg see off Koln

SC Freiburg kept up their European ambitions with a tight 2-1 win over 1. FC Köln at the Schwarzwald-Stadion as the wait for the 50,000th Bundesliga goal extends into Matchday 21.

The first big chance of the game arrived in the 20th minute when Marc Torrejon’s header left 'keeper Thomas Kessler flatfooted, but the Spaniard's effort came straight back off the post.

Yuya Osako then had a free header at the other end for the Billy Goats, but was unable to turn it goalwards. Vincenzo Grifo eventually broke the deadlock with a deflected effort, that bounced over Kessler, down off the bar and over the line.

The lead did not last long though as Anthony Modeste tapped home before the break after Alexander Schwolow failed to hold Leonardo Bittencourt’s effort.

The second half began with a chance for Modeste to give Köln the lead but Schwolow denied the Frenchman from point-blank range.

GERMANY Bundesliga

Yesterday Wolfsburg-Hoffenheim .................... 2-1 SC Freiburg-FC Koln ......................... 2-1

Standings

P W D L F A Pts Bayern Munich20 15 4 1 45 12 49 RB Leipzig 20 13 3 4 36 20 42 E. Frankfurt 20 10 5 5 25 18 35 Dortmund 20 9 7 4 40 23 34 Hoffenheim 20 8 10 2 36 21 34 Hertha Berlin 20 10 3 7 27 23 33 FC Koln 20 8 8 4 29 18 32 SC Freiburg 20 9 2 9 26 34 29 B. Leverkusen 20 8 3 9 31 29 27 B. M’gladbach 20 7 5 8 22 27 26 Schalke 20 7 4 9 24 21 25 1. FSV Mainz 20 7 4 9 29 35 25 FC Augsburg 20 6 6 8 18 24 24 Wolfsburg 20 6 4 10 19 28 22 Hamburger SV 20 5 4 11 19 35 19 W. Bremen 20 4 4 12 24 42 16 Ingolstadt 20 4 3 13 17 32 15 Darmstadt 20 3 3 14 14 39 12