Like last year, the VfL Wolfsburg footballers are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Against Paris Saint-Germain, the German champions handed a 1-1 (1-1) win after the 1-0 win in the first leg to progress.
Alexandra Popp (20th minute) scored the lead for VfL in front of 14,367 fans in the VW Arena, including national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, for Paris Kadidiatou Diani scored (30th).
In the semi-finals in April, Wolfsburg will face WFC Arsenal, who defeated FC Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The exact dates have not yet been determined.
Mainly thanks to a significant increase in the second half, the Wolfsburg women earned progress. After the break, the second in the Bundesliga table carried out his attacks in a much more structured manner and created a number of good chances. In addition to striker Popp, who hit the post from four meters, Lena Oberdorf and Sveindis Jonsdottir were also unlucky. Her attempts landed on the crossbar. In the end, the guests lacked the strength to save themselves with a second goal in extra time.
Popp scores with the first chance to lead
PSG clearly dominated the first half. The guests seemed more technically adept, more determined and full of offensive power. A goal by Diani (11th) was not recognized because the PSG striker was just offside. Above all, Diani and the former Wolfsburg Ramona Bachmann rarely got the Wolfsburg women under control.
The team of VfL trainer Tommy Stroot, who had not included Champions League top scorer Ewa Pajor in his starting XI, initially lacked offensive precision – up to the 20th minute. With the first chance, Popp scored a dream goal in the top right corner after a fine interaction with Felicitas Rauch from 17 meters. A little later, the national striker failed with a diving header to PSG goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi (28th).
PSG striker Diani injured
On the other side, Diani aimed more precisely. After winning a header duel against Dominique Janssen, who was successful for VfL in the first leg, the striker was able to celebrate the deserved equalizer. All the more tragic for PSG that coach Gérard Prêcheur had to replace his top players at half-time. In a duel with Kathrin Hendrich, Diani apparently injured his shoulder; on leaving the square she cried bitterly.
Without Diani, the guests lacked the offensive power of the first half after the break, the Wolfsburg team found their game much better – and finally saved the 1-1 over time. The Champions League final will take place in Eindhoven on June 3rd. The “wolves” have won the title in Europe’s most important club competition twice so far, in 2013 and 2014. The last winner to come from Germany was 1. FFC Frankfurt in 2015.
