Wolfsburg, 08 August 2026

VfL Wolfsburg delivered a disappointing performance against 1. FC Kaiserslautern to open the new season, already exposing weaknesses in the opening minutes.

Even before kickoff, the mood at the Volkswagen Arena was tense, but what the Wolfsburg team showed in the opening minutes exceeded the fans' worst fears. The visitors from Kaiserslautern made a flying start and put the hosts under early pressure. Wolfsburg's defense acted uncertainly during this phase and repeatedly allowed the opposition to advance into dangerous areas.

It was only after around 15 minutes that the Wolfsburg players woke up and began to take the game into their own hands. The team now played more aggressively forward and tried to pin the visitors back defensively in turn. This late reaction at least ensured that the Lower Saxons no longer looked as helpless as they had at the start.