Paul Simonis has suffered his second consecutive Bundesliga defeat with VfL Wolfsburg. There were plenty of chances against RB Leipzig, but it was Johan Bakayoko who stole the show in their victory.
VfL Wolfsburg’s struggles in the Bundesliga deepened on Saturday as they suffered a narrow 0–1 home defeat to RB Leipzig, a result that leaves coach Paul Simonis under mounting scrutiny.
It was Wolfsburg’s second consecutive league loss, following the setback against Borussia Dortmund last week, and it once again highlighted recurring issues: missed chances, defensive lapses, and a lack of composure in crucial moments.
The game at the Volkswagen Arena started in the worst possible way for Wolfsburg. Leipzig needed only a few minutes to silence the home crowd when Johan Bakayoko, already decisive against Mainz earlier this season, struck again. The Belgian winger, who joined Leipzig after a breakthrough spell at PSV, connected with a precise pass from Romûlo and slotted home coolly to make it 0–1. It was Bakayoko’s second Bundesliga goal of the campaign and it forced Wolfsburg to chase the game from early on.
Leipzig’s attacking duo of Bakayoko and Yan Diomandé continued to cause problems throughout the first half, stretching Wolfsburg’s back line and creating several half-chances. The visitors looked dangerous every time they broke forward, and midway through the opening period, Bakayoko almost doubled his tally with a curling effort that went just over the bar. Wolfsburg, meanwhile, saw plenty of the ball but lacked precision in the final third, and so the score remained 0–1 at halftime.
After the break, Simonis introduced Adam Daghim in an effort to spark a turnaround. The new signing injected pace and energy into the attack, and Wolfsburg created a series of opportunities to equalise. Jonas Wind, Ridle Baku and Daghim all came close, but time and again they were denied by Péter Gulácsi. The Leipzig goalkeeper, a veteran between the posts, rolled back the years with a pair of stunning reflex saves that left Wolfsburg and their fans in disbelief.
Leipzig continued to pose a counterattacking threat and could easily have sealed the points earlier in the second half. Ten minutes after the restart, Bakayoko unleashed a long-range strike that rattled the crossbar, a reminder of his ability to decide games almost single-handedly. As the match entered its final stages, Leipzig were awarded a penalty when Bakayoko was fouled inside the box. Christoph Baumgartner had the chance to put the result beyond doubt, but his shot flew wide of the post, sparing Wolfsburg from an even heavier defeat.
Despite that miss, Bakayoko’s early goal was enough to secure a valuable 0–1 away win for Leipzig. The result means Wolfsburg remain with only one victory from their opening fixtures the 2–0 success against Heidenheim on the first weekend – while Leipzig continue their strong start to the season with another clean sheet and three points on the board. For Paul Simonis, however, the defeat raises serious questions. The team is creating opportunities but failing to take them, and German media have already begun speculating about his future if results do not improve quickly.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a far smoother afternoon as they defeated Mainz 05 0–2 away from home. Coming off their win against Wolfsburg, BVB extended their winning streak to four matches in a row, confirming their place among the early frontrunners in the league.
Dortmund had to cope without star striker Serhou Guirassy, who pulled up with a thigh issue during the warm-up and was forced to miss the match. In his absence, Julian Brandt stepped up magnificently. The German international provided two assists, both from rapid counterattacks that exposed Mainz’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Daniel Svensson opened the scoring after a flowing move, finishing calmly past the goalkeeper to make it 0–1. Later, Karim Adeyemi doubled the advantage, capping another counterattack with a composed strike for 0–2. Mainz struggled to create meaningful chances, and Dortmund managed the game with maturity to secure another valuable win.
For Dortmund, the 0–2 success at Mainz keeps the momentum going, while Wolfsburg’s 0–1 defeat at home to Leipzig puts them under growing pressure. The contrast between the two sides could not be clearer: Dortmund are efficient and clinical, while Wolfsburg continue to rue wasted opportunities that are quickly defining their season.
