With a win against Lille OSC, VfL Wolfsburg can move into the last 16 of the Champions League – and even make history in the process.
Florian Kohfeldt is not even trying to play down the importance of this match on Wednesday against Lille OSC. “We have a huge chance, it’s probably one of the most important games in the club’s recent history,” says the VfL coach, who himself is facing his third top flight match. He won his first home match 2-1 against RB Salzburg, and the last match was a 2-0 defeat away to Sevilla FC. Now, another win is needed and VfL will be sure of a place in the last 16.
And they can even achieve something historic. Never before has a team in the Champions League group stage managed to jump from fourth to first place on the last matchday. All it takes is a win if the other match between Salzburg and Sevilla ends in a draw.
But for that to happen, VfL, who have been anything but solid at the back and attack-minded at the front in the league lately, must clear the hurdle of Lille. One thing is clear in advance: together, the two teams cannot advance to the next round on Wednesday evening.
A good omen for VfL? It was the same in the 2014/15 season in the group stage of the Europa League. Wolfsburg, then already with Josuha Guilavogui, progressed thanks to a 3-0 win (goals: Vieirinha and twice Ricardo Rodriguez) in France, while Lille finished last. “We can make it to the last 16 of the Champions League,” coach Kohfeldt implores almost exactly seven years later, “we will do everything for that.” A 1:0 would already be enough.
