Wolfsburg's New Coach Daniel Bauer Faces Defeat in Dramatic Bundesliga Debut

Daniel Bauer's debut as the head coach of VfL Wolfsburg ended in a bittersweet 4-3 loss to SC Freiburg in a thrilling Bundesliga encounter. Appointed with a contract extending until summer 2027 following Paul Simonis's departure, Bauer's first match was marked by high drama and individual brilliance, especially from the young Wolfsburg forward Dzenan Pejcinovic.

Pejcinovic, replacing the injured top scorer Amoura, stole the spotlight by scoring a remarkable hat-trick, including his maiden Bundesliga goals. His first equalizer came after a significant blunder by Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who inexplicably passed the ball straight to Pejcinovic inside the penalty area, allowing Wolfsburg to take a 2-1 lead. Pejcinovic's performance was Wolfsburg's bright spot in an otherwise disappointing game.

The match saw early Freiburg dominance with Philipp Treu netting his first Bundesliga goal to open the scoreline. Freiburg regained momentum through a penalty confidently converted by Vincenzo Grifo, marking his 29th Bundesliga penalty goal. However, Wolfsburg's Jesnon Seelt inadvertently scored an own goal that shifted the advantage back to Freiburg. The decisive moment came late when Scherhant netted the winner for Freiburg, sealing Wolfsburg's loss.

This defeat places Wolfsburg in the relegation zone as they conclude the year on a challenging note, while Freiburg ends their winless streak with this victory. Bauer's coaching record now stands with a previously promising start of seven points in four games, though this match represents his first defeat.

Additional Bundesliga matches that day included a goalless stalemate between Stuttgart and Hoffenheim and another 0-0 draw between Augsburg and Werder Bremen, with Bremen's winless streak extending to five games. Union Berlin edged FC Köln 1-0 thanks to a last-minute goal from Andras Schäfer, in a match marking coach Steffen Baumgart's return to Köln after two years.

Bauer's tenure begins amid high expectations, but this unpredictable match highlighted both Wolfsburg's offensive talent and defensive vulnerabilities. The team and new coach face critical tests ahead as they look to climb out of trouble in the fiercely competitive Bundesliga.