Wolfsburg overpower Bielefeld in Bundesliga

BERLIN - Wolfsburg extended their unbeaten run to eight league games after Renato Steffen scored a brace to see off Arminia Bielefeld 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Visitors Wolfsburg assumed control from the kick-off while defensively-minded Bielefeld kept men behind the ball.

Although the visitors dominated possession, they failed to produce any opportunities as Bielefeld's well-organized defense held firm in the opening stages.

The Wolves eventually broke through at the half-hour mark when Yannick Gerhardt squared to Steffen, who tapped home the opener from close range at the near post.

Bielefeld tried to respond but Michel Vlap pulled wide from the edge of the box two minutes later.

With a narrow lead, Wolfsburg retreated but Bielefeld was unable to pose a threat before half-time.

The away side made it 2-0 just two minutes into the second half, as unmarked Wout Weghorst tested Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega from a tight angle following a free-kick. Ortega tried to intercept Weghorst's square pass but instead he dropped the ball, allowing Steffen to poke home.

Wolfsburg scored again seven minutes later, as Maximilian Arnold and Weghorst exchanged passes before Arnold curled the ball into the top-right corner.

Wolfsburg's third goal sealed the deal and broke the resistance of the hosts, who lacked in penetration and ideas to challenge the visitors.

With the victory, Wolfsburg move up to third spot in the Bundesliga, while 16th-placed Bielefeld stay in a relegation play-off spot.

"I think we staged a good performance, offensively as well as defensively. The third goal killed the game," said Wolfsburg head coach Oliver Glasner.

The following fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: Freiburg host Union Berlin, Borussia Monchengladbach face relegation-threatened Mainz, Cologne entertain newcomers Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt clash with frontrunners Bayern Munich, and bottom side Schalke encounter Borussia Dortmund in the "Revierderby".