VfL Wolfsburg 0-0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings: Both teams share spoils after a tight contest

Bundesliga resumes this Saturday and the former champions travel to the VOLKSWAGEN Arena to take on VfL Wolfsburg head to head. Prior to the match, the travelling teams had all the hopes to get a win so they do not go further behind the title race of the league.

Before the match the hosts were in the eighth position after their fixture of February 2nd. On the other hand, the traveling team sits at the second position and trailing behind eight points from the league topper the Bavarians.

Even though, the hosts are in the 10th place, they are just three points behind the fourth position, which as of that time is held by Stuttgart. In their last fixture, Boniface’s 93rd minute goal made all the difference.

As it seemed, it was all to play for as the kickoff whistle approached. The game started rather balanced. And at the 6th minute, Wolfsburg got a free kick. The set piece was converted by Koulierakis, but it was ruled out for offside. With attacking movements from both side, it was still a balanced approach from both team. Naturally, the half time saw a 0-0 scoreline.

The second half started and the travelling team was under control of the game with the host going forward with counter attacks. As the substitutions were introduced, the game started picking up pace. In the 77th minute a possible penalty seemed to come to the way for the travelling team. However, it was given offside and the penalty was denied.

In the late minutes, the travelling side looked aggressive going forward to score a goal. However, there were no late magic and the score remained 0-0. Here are the VfL Wolfsburg vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings.

VfL Wolfsburg Player Ratings vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Goalkeeper

Muller (4.5/10)

For the first 20 minutes, he barely had anything to do except for that one corner which almost seen him exposed on the second header.

Defenders

Fischer (5/10)

Looked very eager going forward and connected well with his winger and center midfielders. His attempt in the 74th minute was the closest the hosts went. His shot rattled the crossbar and came back to the game.

Vavro (5/10)

Played the perfect partnership with Koulierakis, especially in the first half.

Koulierakis (5/10)

Scored the first goal from the set piece which was the first one in the game. However, it was checked and the goal was offside.

Maehle (4.5/10)

Did his role well while going forward and was good at holding of Tella for the majority of the game as well.

Midfielders

Arnold (4.5/10)

Tried to slot the ball into the net when his team got a free kick outside of the box. But his shot was a comfortable save for Hradecky. He got another chance from the corner which he should have scored. Took a blow in the 70th minute.

Wimmer (4.5/10)

Looked very calm throughout the first half. Around the 31st minute, he took his chance from distance but the shot was deflected as the hosts were awarded a corner. Made some good passes in the box, but there was no one to convert the passes.

Svanberg (4/10)

He was the man behind that 6th minute free kick which saw the first goal of the match before it was ruled offside.

Tomas (4.5/10)

One of the most hardworking players of the squad. Allowed the team to make spaces with his short passing and getting into the right position. Was subbed in the 72nd minute and the midfielder looked upset while getting off the field.

Forwards

Wind (4.5/10)

Not as impactful as he wishes to be. He was kept at bay by the three defenders of Leverkusen. Took a shot from the edge of the box at the 58th minute, but it was blocked.

Amoura (5.5/10)

Was very good going forward and carrying the ball. His off the ball runs higher on the pitch creates space for the advanced midfielders to push. Tried his luck couple of time in the second half but was denied.

Manager

Hasenhutti (3.5/10)

Looked to be the happiest manager between the two, though he had some issues with some decisions.

Substitutions

Skov Olsen (4/10)

Came in for Tomas in the 72nd minute.

Gerhardt (4/10)

Came in the 89th minute.

Vranckx (4/10)

Came in the 89th minute along with Gerhardt.

Bornauw (4/10)

Came in the stoppage time after the second half.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings vs VfL Wolfsburg

Goalkeeper

Hradecky (4.5/10)

Apart from the offside goal, he had pretty less to worry about. Had an easy save in the 31st minute corner as well. And in the 34th minute, he made another save which would have gone in if it had any touch from the opposition player.

Defenders

Hincapie (4.5/10)

Both of the sides are extremely good at counter attacking. Hincapie stood his ground and defended well against the oncoming Tomas, Wind, and Fischer.

Tah (5.5/10)

It’s amazing even when playing with three defenders, he led a higher defense line and goes forward with his team in the majority of the first half without having to worry.

Hermoso (5/10)

Played great in the first half. Be it on the attacking or attending his defensive duties, he was very busy in the first half.

Midfielders

Mukiele (4/10)

While it might seem the midfielder has missed an easy header from the first corner of the game, he barely had any time to react to it, let alone guide the direction.

Xhaka (4.5/10)

Had a shot at the 42nd minute which went over the post. For the rest of the first half, he was busy tracking back balls as the hosts were going forward most of the time. Made another shot outside from the box in the beginning of the second half, that too went away from the post.

Andrich (5/10)

The traveling team maintained a whopping 83% pass accuracy by the end of the first half. And Andrich played a big part in it. He was the second player in his squad to get a yellow card. Took one in the ribs as he made an important block to keep the incoming shot at bay.

Arthur (4.5/10)

Even though they were seen less going forward, Arthur and the other center midfielders helped the team maintain 55% possession by the end of the first half. Got subbed in the 58th minute.

Garcia (4/10)

For sure, he was wishing if his team showed a little more going forward. But the first half was more balanced approach from his squad. He made his way out in the 58th minute as Wirtz was introduced to the pitch.

Forwards

Boniface (4.5/10)

The player thought it was a rather unfair yellow card as he was not even looking at the player in front of him when he was trying to take the ball. Almost broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. It was a less than half chance as the opportunity came in from a throw to a tight angle.

Tella (4.5/10)

Have not seen a lot of ball in the first 20 minutes and looked eager to drop deep and help his team out with the build-up.

Manager

Xabi Alonso (4/10)

He is the upset one between the two managers because of how the game went.

Substitutions

Wirtz (4/10)

Came in the 58th minute. He came for Garcia. Almost scored in the 95th minute with his twinkle toes inside the box.

Frimpong (4/10)

Came along Wirtz in the 58th minute. He replaced Arthur. Had the chance to set up his teammate in the 82nd minute but failed to deliver the ball to him in the box. Had a go from outside the box as well but the direction was just not right.

Schick (4/10)

Came in the 75th minute.

Buendia (4/10)

Came along Schick in the 75th minute. He was the replacement for Tella.

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