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Wolfsburg surprised Real Madrid and with them the whole footballing world as they overpowered the Spanish giants 2-0 at the Volkswagen Arena on Wednesday in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Ricardo Rodriguez converted an early penalty and Maximilian Arnold struck the second goal in the first half itself to stun the travelling Madrid side.
Here are five talking points from the match:
1. Real looked vulnerable against Wolfsburg’s counter attack
Heading out of the tunnel for the second half, captain, Sergio Ramos was seen urging his team mates to pass the ball quicker. Los Blancos had seven players on the field who recently added the Champions League to their resume.
Prior to tonight, Madrid had suffered only a single loss in eleven away matches. Last year’s finalist’s Juventus were the last team to have beaten them. But their dominant possession in tonight’s match meant for little as almost every player on the field was caught in possession by Wolfsburg.
Draxler and company had numerous opportunities to unlock the visitors’ defense and they did more than one time. Los Merengues were guilty of giving away the ball far too easily on too many occasions. Lots of possession and not too many opportunities sum up Madrid’s performance in a historic night at Volkswagen arena.
2. Madrid’s back four struggled
Post their hard fought win against Barcelona, you’d have expected Zidane’s men to put in an intimidating performance. Instead it was the hosts who made Los Blancos look ordinary on numerous occasions.
Draxler and Bruno Henrique in particular looked dangerous all night long. The latter was handed his first start for Wolfsburg and he couldn’t have asked for a better night to deliver. Flooding numbers in attack, Real’s back four were exposed to one on one situations far too many times.
The home side had virtually no trouble in getting the better of Madrid’s full backs in the first half. Having conceded just three goals until tonight, the visitors had the joint best defensive record in the tournament.
But tonight they were thoroughly opened up with ease and intent by the men in white. Twenty five-year-old, Bruno Henrique was a live wire down the right wing and regularly drove in menacing crosses.
3. The home side was sublime with their work rate
The Kings of European football were ruffled and they didn’t like it one bit. The home side exhibited good, determined defending and hunted in packs. Madrid’s players cut frustrating figures as they were disposed off the ball far too easily by the home side.
Wolfsburg was happy to sit deep whenever necessary and timed their pressing game to perfection. Coach, Zidane even decided to take of his star creator Modric for Isco but the latter couldn’t keep up with the game’s pace and was far from his creative best himself.
Deservedly, the home team were rewarded for this and had multiple chances to score more on the counter. Debutant, Henrique and former Chelsea man, Schurrle had glorious opportunities to extend the lead.
Hecking’s men could be left to rue those missed chances as they head to the Bernabeu in a week’s time. But for now they’ll be celebrating a memorable and historic win.
4. Madrid will have to dig really deep turn this one around
As the game reached the final ten minutes, a Wolfsburg fan ran on to the pitch and made the security chase him for a good 100 metres but Marcelo didn’t seem entertained one bit. He and his teammates had a night to forget in Germany. They were outclassed in every single department.
A host of Wolfburg’s players were in the mood to show their real quality. Goal scorer, Maximilian Arnold had a splendid night and has given his side a real chance at a semi final spot. The twenty one year old put in a memorable performance and bossed the midfield.
On one of the rare occasions that Madrid looked dangerous on the counter, he ran a good seventy yards to dispose a Madrid player off the ball. Ronaldo and Benzema were wasteful and should have reduced the deficit. The visitors as a unit looked tired and depleted. They’ll need to consider the second leg as yet another El Clasico if they need to progress this time around.
5. Draxler’s confidence climbs to dizzying heights
"For the club it would be a dream if it happened, but we know we have to be at our best level – it's not a miracle when you play football, just you need to play well and everything is possible.” So said Julian Draxler about his side’s chances against Real Madrid in the pre match press conference.
Left wing, right wing, the German seemed at ease and glided through the pitch tonight. The way he helped his team’s transition from defense to attack was admirable. The counter attack style suited him really well and he looked excited for the big occasion.
Draxler looked magical on the ball and got the better of Danilo and Ramos a couple of times. Several of Europe’s elite would have been impressed with his performance tonight. But for now he has a wonderful chance to continue his miracle run in the Champions League.
