Ishak Belfodil on the ball.
First team | January 15, 2022, 05:27 PM

Goalless draw in Wolfsburg

The first away game of 2022 saw head coach Tayfun Korkut make three changes from the first game of the year. Peter Pekarík, who tested positive for Covid-19, was replaced by Lukas Klünter, who made his first start in 121 days, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp came in for the suspended Suat Serdar and Davie Selke was named on the bench, the now-recovered Ishak Belfodil taking his place. U19 player Anton Kade took a place among the first-team substitutes for the first time, just two days before his 18th birthday. On-loan Herthaner Dodi Lukébakio started the game as a substitute for Wolfsburg.

Schwolow on top form in goal – Richter’s volley flashes wide

The quiet of the opening quarter of an hour was first broken by the home side. Jérôme Roussillon crossed for Luca Waldschmidt, who blazed over from 12 yards under little defensive pressure (16’) two minutes later, Roussillon was involved again, finding Wout Weghorst in the centre, but his effort was denied by Alexander Schwolow (18’). Hertha’s number 1 showed his class and reflexes to prevent Yannick Gerhardt opening the scoring on 29 minutes. As the half drew on, the Blue-Whites grew into the game and found space on the counter, unfortunately just lacking a little bit of danger in the final third. Our first chance came with just under ten minutes of the half remaining, Marco Richter volleying wide of the near post from an acute angle (36’). Just before the break, Niklas Stark flicked a header into the far post from Maximilian Mittelstädt’s near-post corner, but referee Robert Hartmann blew his whistle to disallow the goal. He had spotted a push on Roussillon from Ekkelenkamp off the ball, and ruled the goal out (43’). This was the last action of the half, as the two teams went into half time level.

Photo gallery: VfL Wolfsburg vs. Hertha BSC

An energetic opening to the second half for Hertha

The Blue-Whites brought the momentum they had from the end of the opening 45 into the second half. A half-cleared Ekkelenkamp cross was returned by Santiago Ascacíbar (49’). Seconds later, the away side went even closer as Richter’s effort flew just wide, Darida setting it up with a fine chipped pass (50’). Hertha were sitting much higher up the pitch and taking the game to the Wolves in comparison to the first half; they had the better of the game. Nevertheless, the home side remained dangerous, Waldschmidt being blocked by a strong Stark challenge and firing over from range in quick succession (58’, 59’). The attacker was replaced by Lukébakio shortly afterwards (63’). The on-loan Herthaner could do nothing to change the game, though, as the away side had the better of the half. Richter tested Wolsfsburg goalkeeper Casteels, before Sebastiaan Bornauw was smothered by Schwolow at the other end (73’, 75’). As the final stages of the game came closer, Korkut brought Selke on for Myziane Maolida in search of some fresh attacking impetus, but there was little more action in front of goal in the final ten minutes, as the game finished goalless. With 22 points, Hertha remain above VfL in the table by one point.

 

VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels; Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks; Baku, Gerhardt (79’ F. Nmecha), Arnold, Roussillon; Steffen (63’ Vranckx), Weghorst, Waldschmidt (63’ Lukébakio)

Hertha BSC: Schwolow; Klünter, Stark, Torunarigha, Mittelstädt; Richter, Ascacíbar (90+3’ Tousart), Darida, Ekkelenkamp (87’ Boyata); Belfodil, Myziane (78’ Selke)

Referee: Robert Hartmann

Yellow cards: Steffen; Klünter

Attendance: 500

by Hertha BSC