Borussia Mönchengladbach visit to Volkswagen Arena ended with a rousing 3-0 victory for Wolfsburg which positions them, albeit temporarily, in fifth place, five points behind league-leader Bayer Leverkusen.
Borussia manager Hans Meyer in a surprise move, baptized twenty-year old 'keeper Frederic Löhe for his first duty. The young 'keeper stood his ground and wasn't afraid to bark orders to the charges in front of him. Ten minutes after the opening whistle Makoto Hasebe cross to Bosnia and Herzegovina international Edin Džeko narrowly missed giving die Wölfe the lead but bounced off crossbar to safety. Wolfsburg continued to pressure but couldn't find the right finishing touch until five minutes before the half when Grafite converted on the penalty after he had been pulled down in the area by the young 'keeper. The lead was doubled ten minutes after the break when Zvjezdan Misimović's free-kick was headed-in by Alexander Madlung. Felix Magath wisely introduced a fit Cristian Zaccardo into a line-up to lock-down the match with Andrea Barzagli. While Borussia poured forward looking to draw back into the match, the back-line now anchored with the Azzurri duo was impenetrable. With fifteen minutes remaining Gal Alberman was adjudged to fouling Christian Gentner and the spot was pointed to. Zvjezdan Misimović calmly converted giving Wolfsburg the 3-0 lead.
Wolfsburg faces an enormous test this Friday as they face Bayer Leverkusen.
As a final note after reviewing a number of primarily media reports I have to say I am appalled with the lack of respect towards Borussia Mönchengladbach. I am annoyed to no-end that those without a sense of history or knowledge of what the club has meant to Football in Germany are provided the pulpit to write about the sport. Borussia is one of the most important institutions in German Football and their turnaround is something that all true fans of Football in the region should hope for. The survival Die Fohlen of not in question and their success inevitable but more importantly it is time to embrace the sports heritage with respect.
