Daniel Ginczek on target again as Wolfsburg extend unbeaten run to four in Nuremberg
Daniel Ginczek was once again on target for Wolfsburg, who extended their unbeaten run to four consecutive Bundesliga games with a 2-0 victory away to Nuremberg in the Matchday 15 opener on Friday evening.
Nuremberg 0-2 Wolfsburg
Goals: 0-1 Ginczek (58'), 0-2 Brekalo (90+3')
Having taken points off Frankfurt, Leipzig and Hoffenheim in recent weeks, the Wolves began confidently and sent out an early warning sign when Ginczek forced a good save from Fabian Bredlow in the third minute. However, Nuremberg were subsequently much more vigilant at the back and managed to keep their visitors at arm's length until half-time, while Adam Zrelak missed their best chance at the other end of the pitch, flicking over at full stretch after a brilliant counter-attack.
Wolfsburg remained dominant after the interval and very nearly edged ahead when Wout Weghorst darted in front of his marker to meet Yannick Gerhardt's cross from the left, but his first-time shot struck a post and bounced clear. Ginczek was rather more ruthless moments later though, weaving past two defenders in the box before burying a low shot into the corner. Nuremberg – winless at home since beating Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-0 in late September – threw everything forward in the closing stages in search of an equaliser and thought they had found one when Zrelak finished from close range, only for it to be ruled out for offside. It was the Wolves who added to the scoreline though, substitute Josip Brekalo clinically finishing off a counter to seal a deserved win for Bruno Labbadia's side.
Match stats
- Ginczek scored for a third successive game for the Wolves, the first time he has done so at the club. The last time he managed such a run was in April 2015 with Stuttgart.
- John Brooks and William returned to the Wolfsburg starting line-up following suspension last week.
- Yunus Malli featured for the first time in a month for the Wolves; his last appearance was on Matchday 11 against Hannover.
- Zrelak and Matheus Pereira started up front together for the first time ever for Nuremberg here.
- Gerhardt covered more ground in this game than any other player (7.5 miles).
- Brekalo's goal was his second in the Bundesliga this season.
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Line-ups
Nuremberg: Bredlow – Bauer, Margreitter, Mühl, Leibold – Misidjan, Petrak, Pereira (Ishak 71'), Rhein (Kerk 83') - Zrelak, Palacios (Erras 88')
Unused substitutes: Klandt, Goden, Ewerton, Kubo
Out: Lippert (knee), Mathenia (knee), Löwen (knee), Valentini (thigh), Behrens (unknown)
Coach: Michael Köllner
Wolfsburg: Casteels – William, Knoche, Brooks, Uduokhai – Gerhardt, Guilavogui (c), Arnold – Malli (Brekalo 79') – Ginczek, Weghorst (Steffen 87')
Unused substitutes: Pervan, Verhaegh, Klaus, Mehmedi, Rexhbecaj
Out: Camacho (ankle), Roussillon (adductor), Tisserand (thigh), Blaszczykowski (flu), Jung (thigh)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia
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