1899 torn apart by the Wolves

1899 had started off reasonably well; Carlos Eduardo had tested Wolfsburg keeper Diego Benaglio from the edge of the box on 12 minutes, Nilsson somehow nodded wide after Salihovic's cross from a short corner routine.

Wolfsburg were to make Hoffenheim pay for their wastefulness by taking the lead on 25 minutes, a goal which came completely against the run of play. After a cross from Christian Gentner, Edin Dzeko rose the highest to nod home his 17th goal of the season.

1899 could certainly consider themselves unfortunate to be behind at the break, but any plans they had of turning things around in the second period took a very early knock on 51 minutes. After Misimovic's free kick was swung into the box, Andrea Barzagli nodded past Haas for his first ever Bundesliga goal.

1899 had dominated the first half, but Wolfsburg were simply making better use of the chances that came their way, and they scored a third on 74 minutes to put the game beyond Ralf Rangnick's side. Edin Dzeko was this time the provider with the cross for Misimovic to guide the ball past Haas and make it 3-0.

The scoreline did become a little flattering though less than a minute later when the influential Misimovic set Grafite through, the Brazilian teeing up for Dzeko to score his second of the game and make the final score 4-0. Hoffenheim had had chances in the first half, and if perhaps Wolfsburg had not have Diego Benaglio in goal, it oculd well have been 1899 who were leading at half time.

Despite this disappointing reverse, 1899 have probably done enough to guarantee safety from the relegation spots, but they will however certainly not be in the reckoning for the European spots; it will be paramount though that Hoffenheim perform well in the last few games as the club already starts to look ahead to next season.

Quotes

Per Nilsson
The first half was very good from us. We left no stone unturned and we were red got going forward. After the second goal we conceded though, we found in hard to get our minds back into the game. We have to get our confidence back on the training pitch.

Marvin Compper
We got nothing in the end despite having played well in the first half. The willpower and the effort were both there, but sadly not the end product again.

Vedad Ibisevic
We certainly made headway in the first half with our performance, but we coouldn't take advantage of being on top. It's been like this nearly all season though. We must work much harder and take little steps of self-confidence.

Ralf Rangnick
We had clear opportunities in the first 20 minutes, when we were clearly on top, We should have gone in front there and then. We said at half-time that we were determined to go out and turn the game around, but after conceding the second goal we couldn't get back into the game.

Edin Dzeko
It wasn't as easy today as the result shows. Diego Benaglio saved us a few times, but after we went ahead we never looked back.

Dieter Hoeneß
We had to thank Benaglio, who kept us in the game. 1899 started off really well, but we managed to get ourelves a foothold in the game by half time. The goal in the first hlaf was completely out of the blue. It wasn't the sort of game that you would have expected us to win so comfortably.

Lorenz-Günther Köstner
It was important that we didn't lose after the Europa League game the other night, but we were lucky a couple of times. You could see again how we were devastatingly lethal when it came to taking chances, and that we have some truly word class strikers. Now we have to make sure we do it all again on Thursday against Fulham.

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