Wolfsburg suffer first league defeat of season at Hoffenheim

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:03 am
Hoffenheim's Christoph Baumgartner celebrates scoring his sides second goal.
Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

VfL Wolfsburg lost 3-1 at Hoffenheim on Saturday after taking the lead, suffering their first defeat of the season to drop three points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

Wolfsburg looked to be on track for another win when Ridle Baku's sensational shot from 20 metres put them ahead in the 25th minute.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

- ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more

Wolfsburg, who host Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday, had enjoyed a strong start but gradually eased off, allowing Hoffenheim to level on the stroke of halftime when Andrej Kramaric was left unmarked at the far post to power in a header.

The hosts were again stronger in the second half and bagged a second goal when Pavel Kaderabek chased down a deep cross, then cut perfectly into the box for Christoph Baumgartner to drill in.

Kaderabek made sure of the three points nine minutes from time, scoring on the rebound after a free kick had bounced off the post.