- Julian Baumgartlinger - 85'
- Marin Pongracic - 43', 75'
- Maximilian Arnold - 64'
- Renato Steffen - 67'
Wolfsburg stun Bayer Leverkusen with Mario Pongracic double
Croatian Marin Pongracic scored his first two Bundesliga goals as Wolfsburg romped to a surprise 4-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, boosting their hopes of playing in European competition next season.
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Leverkusen slipped one place down to fifth on 53 points from 28 games, while Wolfsburg stayed sixth on 42 points and on course to clinch a Europa League qualifying berth.
It was the home side's first defeat since the season restarted following a two-month stoppage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, after they beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 and Werder Bremen 4-1 away in their first two games back.
Cardboard fans in the otherwise empty stadium, with all Bundesliga games being played behind closed doors, did little to inspire Leverkusen, as Wolfsburg dominated the opening half against a toothless home side.
Pongracic headed the visitors into a 43rd-minute lead when he met a Maximilian Arnold free kick from the right as Wolfsburg dominated the opening half, with Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky denying Joao Victor early on.
Hradecky pulled off two more fine saves shortly after the break but was powerless to stop the rout as goals by Arnold and Renato Steffen made it 3-0 before Pongracic put the icing on the cake with a glancing header.
Half-time substitute Julian Baumgartlinger scored a late consolation for the home side when he swept in a loose ball from close range.
Leverkusen visit seventh-placed Freiburg on Friday in the next round of matches while Wolfsburg are at home to struggling Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
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