The Bundesliga is back after the international break, and there was no shortage of drama as VfL Wolfsburg secured a thrilling victory over TSG Hoffenheim at the Volkswagen Arena on Sunday.
The game was filled with excitement from start to finish, with both teams displaying excellent attacking football throughout. The visitors came into the match with high hopes of securing all three points, but it wasn't until the second half that they found their breakthrough.
Enner Valencia, who has been in fine form this season, scored his first goal for the club since joining from Real Madrid, giving Wolfsburg the lead in the 57th minute. The goal was a testament to the quality of the team's play, as Valencia worked tirelessly down the right flank before finding space in the box and firing home.
TSG Hoffenheim were not willing to give up though, and they responded immediately with a goal of their own, thanks to a well-worked move that saw Benjamin Pavard score a stunning equalizer just four minutes later.
But despite the equalizer, Wolfsburg refused to back down, and they continued to press forward in search of the winner. And in the 88th minute, it looked like they had done just that when Marco Reus hit the post with a powerful effort from outside the area.
However, the game went to extra time, and in the final moments of the penalty shootout, Wolfsburg's goalkeeper Stefan Ortmann made a fantastic save to deny Hoffenheim a chance to win the match.
In the end, it was a tense and dramatic encounter, with both sides leaving the pitch with nothing less than a point. But for Wolfsburg, it was a much-needed win that will boost their confidence heading into the final stretch of the season. As for Hoffenheim, they will be disappointed to have lost, but they can take heart from the fact that they put up a good fight against one of the top teams in Germany.