VfL Wolfsburg won again for the first time since the 1-0 win in Darmstadt. The 2-0 win in Bremen also meant the first clean sheet since that success in mid-December. Which automatically puts the goalkeeper in the spotlight.
Diving: Pavao Pervan parries and paves the way to Wolfsburg’s victory in Bremen. IMAGO/Nordphoto
It wasn’t enough for Koen Casteels, and as Ralph Hasenhüttl reported after Wolfsburg’s redemptive 2-0 win on the Weser, it wasn’t even close to the question of whether the goalkeeper would be able to play in Bremen.
Rather, there is a risk of an even longer absence for VfL’s number one, who recently missed both the duel with Augsburg (1:3) and the international matches with Belgium. “It will take a while,” announced Hasenhüttl, “a muscle injury in the shoulder is suboptimal for a goalkeeper.”
It wasn’t the best news for crisis-hit VfL in the run-up to the game. On the one hand, because Casteels is one of the outstanding keepers in the league, and on the other hand, because with representative Pavao Pervan between the posts, they have not yet managed to win in five games this season. Only in the first leg against Werder (2:2) did they not lose. Now came the second leg, and the Austrian had the longed-for liberation in the Wolfsburg goal.
Pervan paves the way to Wolfsburg’s first victory in 2024
A save by Pervan, “a super save,” according to the new coach, became a decisive scene in the game. Bremen increased the pressure and, after half an hour, played Nick Woltemade free in the penalty area, who aimed for the far corner. Pervan dived, got the ball with his left hand and paved the way to Wolfsburg’s first win of 2024.
“In this scene he keeps us in the game,” Hasenhüttl praised his compatriot, “and I thought he was very good in other ways too.” Not particularly tested, but with calm and security even with the ball at his feet, Pervan, together with his front men, ensured the first clean sheet and the first VfL win since December 16th, when Wolfsburg won 1-0 in Darmstadt had won.
Will Casteels be back against Gladbach?
A liberation in the table cellar, which should be gilded next Sunday (5.30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker) in Hasenhüttl’s first home game against Mönchengladbach. Then again with Casteels or again with veteran Pervan in goal? Probably the latter, although the coach doesn’t want to commit yet. According to Hasenhüttl’s forecast, it will take a while, “but we’ll see from day to day.”
2024-03-31 11:29:32
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