In a tightly contested first leg of the Bundesliga promotion-relegation playoff, VfL Wolfsburg and SC Paderborn 07 played to a scoreless draw on Thursday. The outcome leaves the final spot in Germany’s top flight wide open ahead of the decisive second leg on 25 May at 20:30 CEST.
Wolfsburg held back by resilient Paderborn
Despite dominating possession and creating more scoring chances, Wolfsburg could not break down a disciplined Paderborn defense. The home side finished the Bundesliga season in 16th place with just 29 points from 34 matches, clinging to survival by the narrowest of margins.
Paderborn, currently third in the 2. Bundesliga, is eyeing a return to the elite tier for the first time since 2020, and will push for all three points in the return fixture.
Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga legacy
Wolfsburg, a club founded in 1945, has been a Bundesliga mainstay since 1997. The Wolves have left their mark on German football, claiming the Bundesliga title in 2009 and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals in 2016. The club also played a pivotal role in the rise of Belgian sensation Kevin De Bruyne, who starred for the team during the 2014–15 season.
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