Wolfsburg move into European places and push Nuremberg nearer to relegation
Strikes from Felix Klaus and Marcel Tisserand secured a 2-0 win for Wolfsburg that takes them into a UEFA Europa League spot, while Nuremberg remain five points from the relegation play-off place with just six to play for.
Wolfsburg 2-0 Nuremberg
Goals: 1-0 Klaus (38'), 2-0 Tisserand (78')
Nuremberg began well, reflecting a recent upturn in form that saw them go into the game with just one defeat in their last five. They carved out the first attack of note as Matheus Pereira, Mikael Ishak and Sebastian Kerk all combined before Pavao Pervan denied Ishak what would have been a tap-in at the far post. Despite an encouraging start from Der Club, it was Wolfsburg who took the lead with an opportunist goal that summed up Nuremberg's struggles this season. Kerk's back-pass was short, allowing Admir Mehmedi to win the ball from Christian Mathenia and Klaus to tap home what will be one of the easiest goals he is ever likely to score.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with neither side able to conjure up goalscoring chances of real note until Tisserand rose highest to power home Wolfsburg's second with a little under quarter of an hour remaining. By full-time Wolfsburg were lifted into sixth, the final European berth, while Nuremberg - mathematically able to finish in the relegation play-off - are now five points behind Stuttgart in 16th with just six available over the two remaining matchdays. For now, they live to fight another day.
Match stats
- Wout Weghorst's 14 goals make up over a quarter of Wolfsburg's total league goals (53) and are more than double that of their next highest scorer, Mehmedi (6).
- It was Tisserand's first-ever Bundesliga goal and Klaus's maiden strike of the season.
- This is the first time in three seasons that Wolfsburg will not be in the Bundesliga's relegation play-off.
- Leibold's last-minute penalty miss against Bayern last time out was the fourth time a Nuremberg player has failed to score from the spot this season in six attempts.
- Daniel Ginczek came on against his former club, having scored three goals for Nuremberg when they were relegated in 2013/14.
- Nuremberg haven't beaten Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga since November 2012. In the five matches since, they have drawn twice and lost the last three.
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Line-ups
Wolfsburg: Pervan - Steffen (Uduokhai 76'), Knoche, Tisserand, Gerhardt - Rexhbecaj, Guilavogui (c), Arnold - Mehmedi - Klaus (Malli 69'), Weghorst (Ginczek 84')
Subs: Menzel, Brekalo, Franke, Ziegele
Out: Camacho (ankle), Casteels (thigh), Itter (groin), Roussillon (thigh), William (suspended)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia
Nuremberg: Mathenia - Bauer, Mühl, Ewerton (Margreitter 73'), Leibold - Erras - Pereira (Kubo 75'), Löwen, Behrens (c), Kerk - Ishak (Knöll 81')
Subs: Bredlow, Petrak, Tillman, Rhein
Out: Valentini (thigh), Zrelak (cruciate ligament)
Coach: Boris Schommers
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