Wolfsburg frustrated by Paderborn to lose ground on Bayern

RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

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Wolfsburg were frustrated by a plucky Paderborn side as they lost ground on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich following a 1-1 draw at the VW-Arena.

Vieirinha put the Wolves in front in the 17th minute, but a missed penalty from Ivan Perisic and numerous spurned chances from Bas Dost meant they only took a 1-0 lead with them into the break.

Alban Meha levelled from the penalty spot early in the second half and then it was a mixture of Wolfsburg's wastefulness and Paderborn goalkeeper Lukas Kruse's heroics which denied the hosts.

As a result, Bayern now have a nine-point advantage over second-placed Wolfsburg at the top of the league while Paderborn have established a four-point cushion over the bottom three.

Wolfsburg made a good early spell of pressure count when they took the lead.

Perisic lifted the ball to the far post where Vieirinha headed it towards goal and Rafael Lopez's attempt to clear was unsuccessful as he only helped the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

Perisic could have increased Wolfsburg's lead after half an hour from the penalty spot after Dost was fouled by Christian Strohdiek, but Kruse guessed the right way and made a save.

Dost then hit the crossbar from close range from Marcel Schafer's low cross and Kevin De Bruyne curled another effort wide as the Wolves looked to finish Paderborn off.

It was not Dost's night as when he did get the ball in the back of the net, it was ruled out for a foul just before half-time.

A disputable penalty decision for a foul by Naldo on Strohdiek gave Meha the chance to level matters early in the second half, and the Albanian made no mistake.

Dost's comedy of errors continued as he first saw a close-range header saved before squandering another chance laid on a plate for him by De Bruyne when he failed to get the ball under control with only Kruse to beat.

Dutch forward Dost again shot straight at Kruse before De Bruyne flashed his next effort wide with the chances multiplying for Wolfsburg.

The siege continued unabated with Luiz Gustavo and Naldo also going close, as did Kruse.

But it was Marvin Bakalorz who nearly snatched a win late on for Paderborn with what, apart from the penalty, was their only shot on goal of the game, but Diego Benaglio saved.