Wolfsburg climb to third in 2. Bundesliga with 3-1 win over Heidenheim
Bernhardsson, Glatzel and Damar strike as Wolfsburg leapfrog Heidenheim
Wolfsburg moved above Heidenheim in the 2. Bundesliga table after a deserved 3-1 win in the battle of two clubs relegated from the Bundesliga last season. The victory carried Tobias Strobl's side up to third, a timely boost in their push for an immediate return to the top flight.
The match needed barely a minute to catch fire. Debutant goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther denied Christian Conteh at one end almost immediately, and Wolfsburg went straight down the pitch to take the lead, Alexander Bernhardsson scoring his fourth goal for the club with a quickfire finish.
Heidenheim hit back with another header as Glatzel restores the lead
Heidenheim were the better side after conceding and their persistence paid off with a familiar source of goals — their seventh headed goal of the season. Jan Schoppner provided the assist with a header for his captain Patrick Mainka, who finished the move off in the same fashion.
Both teams had chances to go in front before the break, including a Bernhardsson effort that struck the post. It was Robin Glatzel, however, who restored Wolfsburg's advantage in first-half stoppage time with a measured header from a Joakim Mæhle delivery. The former HSV striker now has five goals in his last three appearances at the Volkswagen Arena.
The hosts kept the momentum after the interval and Muhammed Damar joined the scoresheet with his third goal in as many games. The ex-Hoffenheim midfielder had also scored a hat-trick against Havelse in a friendly during the international break, and he might have repeated the feat here were it not for a couple of decent saves from Thomas Dahne.
A productive matchday in the promotion race
With Hertha BSC and Nürnberg both dropping points on Friday, the result made for a successful matchday for Strobl's men as they chase promotion back to the Bundesliga at the first attempt.
For Heidenheim, the defeat leaves them winless in their last three games, having won their previous three matches.