- John Brooks - 33'
- Daniel Ginczek - 90'+4'
- Nabil Bentaleb - 85' Pen
- Matija Nastasic - 65'
John Brooks scores as Wolfsburg shock Schalke in Bundesliga opener
BERLIN -- VfL Wolfsburg's Daniel Ginczek snatched a stoppage-time winner to stun Schalke 04 2-1 on Saturday and give the Wolves a winning start to the Bundesliga campaign against last season's runners-up in a bad-tempered game.
Schalke substitute Nabil Bentaleb scored an 85th-minute penalty to level the game but Ginczek grabbed the last-gasp winner deep into added time.
The Royal Blues, who will compete in the Champions League group stage, were surprised when John Brooks, unmarked at the far post, headed in for the lead in the 33rd minute.
Disciplined and hard-working, the Wolves looked eager to earn a winning start after needing a relegation playoff last season to stay up.
Schalke tried to retake the initiative but it was Wolfsburg who looked likelier to score again and to make matters worse the visitors were left with 10 when Nastasic was sent off for a foul in the 65th minute.
Minutes later Wolfsburg's Wout Weghorst also got his marching orders after shoving an opponent to the ground but the referee changed his decision to a yellow card after reviewing the video.
Schalke were awarded a penalty and Brooks was initially sent off for his challenge before the referee realised he was showing the wrong card to the player and Brooks was then booked.
Bentaleb kept his cool to send Koen Casteels the wrong way but Wolfsburg still had something left in the tank and Ginczek scored in the dying seconds in a game featuring eight yellow cards.
Eintracht Frankfurt bounced back from their German Super Cup defeat by Bayern Munich and their shock German Cup first-round exit with a 2-0 win at Freiburg.
Augsburg also got three points after edging promoted Fortuna Dusseldorf 2-1 while Hertha Berlin beat Nuremberg, back in the Bundesliga this season, 1-0 thanks to Vedad Ibisevic' winner.
Champions Bayern Munich kicked off their season with a 3-1 win over Hoffenheim on Friday. Borussia Dortmund host RB Leipizg in their season opener on Sunday.
Game Information
German Bundesliga Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | +34 | 36 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | +16 | 32 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | +12 | 27 |
| RB Leipzig | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | +4 | 27 |
| Mainz | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | +8 | 25 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | +6 | 25 |
| Werder Bremen | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | +1 | 25 |
| Borussia Monchengladbach | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | +5 | 24 |
| SC Freiburg | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | -3 | 24 |
| VfB Stuttgart | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | +4 | 23 |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | +4 | 21 |
| 1. FC Union Berlin | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -5 | 17 |
| FC Augsburg | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -15 | 16 |
| St. Pauli | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 14 |
| TSG Hoffenheim | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -8 | 14 |
| 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 11 | -15 | 10 |
| Holstein Kiel | 15 | 2 | 2 | 11 | -19 | 8 |
| VfL Bochum | 15 | 1 | 3 | 11 | -22 | 6 |
Bundesliga News