Amoura secures victory for Wolfsburg away to struggling Hoffenheim
Wolfsburg picked up an important 1-0 away victory against lowly Hoffenheim, Mohamed Amoura scoring the decisive goal to boost the Wolves' European ambitions and extend TSG's winless Bundesliga run to five matches.
Hoffenheim 0-1 Wolfsburg
Goals: 0-1 Amoura 29' (assist: Arnold)
The teams were back underway after the winter pause, with the Wolves hoping to bounce back from successive losses and and Hoffenheim keen to end a winless streak that stood at seven games in all competitions prior to this encounter.
The first half was dominated by the visitors, who looked the more threatening side from the outset. Their pressure paid off in the 29th minute when Amoura broke the deadlock, the Algerian forward rising highest to meet Maximilian Arnold's corner and powering a header past Oliver Baumann.
Set-piece specialists
The goal was a testament to Wolfsburg's set-piece prowess, with the Wolves having scored the most goals from dead-ball situations in the Bundesliga this season.
Hoffenheim struggled to create clear-cut chances, thereafter, with their best opportunity falling to Adam Hložek, whose long-range effort flew just over the crossbar.
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Vavro impresses for Wolves
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Hoffenheim began to assert themselves. However, Wolfsburg's defence, marshalled by the impressive Denis Vavro, held firm.
The Wolves came close to doubling their lead when Jonas Wind's instinctive effort struck the post in the 76th minute, while Hoffenheim's best chance to equalise came in the 79th minute when Prass found himself with an open goal, only to blaze his shot over the bar.
Despite a late surge from the hosts, Wolfsburg managed to weather the storm and secure a valuable three points on the road.
Player of the Match: Mohamed Amoura
Amoura's match-winning performance underlined his growing importance to Wolfsburg. The Algerian forward not only scored the all-important goal but was a constant threat throughout the match. His ability to find space in the box was evident in his well-taken header, while his pace and movement caused problems for the Hoffenheim defence all afternoon. Amoura's goal, along with his overall contribution, made him the standout player in a tightly contested match.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Hoffenheim 1.14 - Wolfsburg 1.2
Fastest player: Erencan Yardımcı (Hoffenheim), 34.76 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-1 by Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg), 11.71 percent
Most pressed player: Adam Hložek (Hoffenheim), 23 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Maximilian Arnold (Wolfsburg), +3.87
Fantasy Heroes: Maximilian Arnold (Wolfsburg, 281 Points), Denis Vavro (Wolfsburg, 251 Points), Arthur Chaves (Hoffenheim, 254 Points)
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