Niko Kovac's in-form Wolfsburg put Mainz to the sword
Niko Kovac's Wolfsburg extended their unbeaten run to six Bundesliga matches with a 3-0 win in Mainz.
Mainz 0-3 Wolfsburg
Goals: 0-1 Wimmer 33' (F. Nmecha), 0-2 Arnold 70', 0-3 Baku 84' (assist: Kaminski)
Mid-table Mainz started well as Marcus Ingvartsen fired at Koen Casteels with the game’s first opening. Casteels then pulled off a brilliant reaction save from Dominik Kohr, who struck the woodwork moments later. Wolfsburg had offered little in an attacking sense, until the 33rd minute. With the visitors’ first attempt on goal, Patrick Wimmer collected Felix Nmecha's pass and broke the deadlock with a shot on the turn.
Edimilson Fernandes went close to equalising with a well-struck volley, before Felix Nmecha crashed an effort - adjudged offside - against the crossbar. Maximilian Arnold thundered in a long-range free-kick to give the Wolves some breathing space. A late goal from former Mainz man Ridle Baku put the result - 11th-placed Wolfsburg’s second win in a row - beyond any doubt.
Match stats
- Wolfsburg have scored 15 goals across their last six Bundesliga matches, compared to five in their first seven under Kovac.
- Felix Nmecha has had a direct hand in four goals across Wolfsburg's last three games (two of his own, plus two assists).
- Wimmer netted his first goal in nine competitive appearances since joining Wolfsburg from Arminia Bielefeld.
- Arnold has three goals and two assists in his last six Bundesliga games.
- Baku represented the Mainz youths and made 54 senior appearances for the club, winning his first Germany caps, before joining Wolfsburg in October 2020.
- Kovac has overseen more wins against Mainz than any team he’s faced as a coach (W8, D1, L1).
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Teams
Mainz: Zentner - Fernandes, Hack, Caci (Fulgini 68') - Widmer (c) (da Costa 71'), Stach (Burgzorg 78'), Kohr, Lee (Barkok 84'), Aaron - Ingvartsen (Burkardt 71'), Onisiwo
Unused subs: Dahmen, Bell, Barreiro, Tauer
Out: Leitsch (exhaustion), Mustapha (thigh)
Coach: Bo Svensson
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Baku, Bornauw, Van de Ven, Otavio (Roussillon 88') - F. Nmecha (Svanberg 65'), Arnold (c), Gerhardt - Wimmer (Fischer 76'), L. Nmecha (Wind 65'), Kaminski (Marmoush 88')
Unused subs: Pervan, Lacroix, Brekalo, Waldschmidt
Out: Franjic (calf), Kruse (not considered), Paredes (calf), Roussillon (Achilles)
Coach: Niko Kovac
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