The VfL Wolfsburg footballers experienced a bitter disappointment in the Champions League. The team led by DFB captain Alexandra Popp missed the lucrative group phase with a 0:2 (0:1) against Paris FC.
After the 3-3 draw in the first leg of the second round a week ago, this year’s premier class finalist disappointed across the board in front of 3,747 spectators in the AOK Stadium – including new interim coach Horst Hrubesch.
Wolfsburg had won the Champions League title in 2013 and 2014 and was one of the favorites this time too. But as in Paris, coach Tommy Stroot’s VfL players got off to a very weak start and almost fell behind after eleven minutes: Lisa Schmitz, the representative of national goalkeeper Merle Frohms, saved a penalty from Gaetane Thiney after a handball from Popp . The only chance before the break was missed by Ewa Pajor, who headed it onto the post (22nd minute).
Julie Dufour took advantage of the confusion in the Wolfsburg defense with a shot from a tight angle to make it 1-0 for the French (38th). After the substitution, the Dutch national player Dominique Janssen failed with a penalty kick from the Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (61′). Popp had previously been knocked down in the penalty area. Pajor shot just wide of the right post in the 80th minute. After a counterattack, Louise Fleury made everything clear for the guests (90th).
Frankfurt continues confidently
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt carried out its compulsory task confidently. After beating AC Sparta Prague 5-0 in the first leg, the Bundesliga club won 3-0 (3-0) in the Czech Republic. The Austrian Barbara Dunst shone with a hat trick in the first half (18th, 33rd and 43rd minutes).
The Frankfurt women secured an entry fee for the group phase of 400,000 euros. FC Bayern is set for this as German champions. The draw is on Friday, the first games are on November 14th and 15th.
