Borussia Dortmund Vs VfL Wolfsburg Player Ratings: Karim Adeyemi rated 8.5/10 as BVB Secure Narrow 1-0 Win

Borussia Dortmund grinded out a narrow 1-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg in a classic Bundesliga encounter. It was a game decided by a single moment of brilliance. That moment came from the boots of Karim Adeyemi, who was just a nightmare for the Wolfsburg defence all evening.

His strike in the 20th minute from outside the box was exquisite. It was the kind of quality that separates teams in these tight matches. Julian Ryerson deserves a huge shoutout for the assist too, he was fantastic. Dortmund really controlled the first half and probably should have scored more. They just seemed to have more ideas in the final third.

Wolfsburg, on the other hand, felt a bit toothless. They were organized, you have to give them that, but they barely troubled Gregor Kobel. The second half was a tougher battle, more of a midfield slog. The visitors pushed for an equalizer toward the end but the BVB defence stood tall. Ultimately, this match was won by the team that took their one big chance. It wasn’t pretty, but it's three crucial points for Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park. Here are the Borussia Dortmund vs Wolfsburg player ratings.

Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings vs VfL Wolfsburg

Here are the Borussia Dortmund player ratings vs Wolfsburg.

Goalkeeper

Gregor Kobel - 7.0: The captain had a relatively quiet day at the office. He wasn't tested often, which is a credit to his defence. However, when called upon to save a shot from Arnold, he was solid. What stood out to us was his command of the area and his clean distribution. He did everything asked of him without any fuss. A calm and composed performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Waldemar Anton - 7.0: A very steady performance from the defender. He was excellent in possession, rarely giving the ball away with a 95% pass accuracy. He read the game well and made several important clearances and tackles. From our perspective, he formed a solid partnership with Schlotterbeck. He wasn't spectacular, but he was incredibly reliable and did his job effectively.

Nico Schlotterbeck - 7.5: We thought he was a rock at the back for Dortmund. He was so composed on the ball, often stepping out of defence to start attacks. His range of passing was impressive, finding teammates with long balls consistently. He made some crucial blocks and interceptions when Wolfsburg tried to counter. A very modern and commanding centre-back display.

Ramy Bensebaini - 6.5: A mixed bag from Bensebaini. He picked up a very early yellow card which put him on a tightrope for the rest of the game. To his credit, he managed it well and didn't make any more rash challenges. He was solid defensively for the most part, but it felt like the booking restricted his forward runs. A decent but slightly nervy performance.

Midfielders

Felix Nmecha - 6.5: He had a decent game without ever really grabbing it by the scruff of the neck. Kept the ball moving in midfield and had a high pass completion rate. However, we noticed he didn't offer much of a threat in the final third. It was a tidy but ultimately quiet performance before he was substituted in the second half.

Marcel Sabitzer - 7.5: The engine room of the team today. His work rate was phenomenal, covering so much ground both defensively and offensively. He created three chances for his teammates, showing real quality with his passing. Sabitzer's experience was vital in managing the game, especially in the latter stages. A really strong and influential performance from the Austrian.

Daniel Svensson - 6.0: It was a frustrating outing for Svensson. He worked tirelessly but his final ball and decision-making were lacking. He lost possession far too many times which broke down promising attacks. Defensively he put in a shift but struggled to make a positive impact when on the ball. Not his best day.

Julian Ryerson - 8.0: A fantastic performance from the full-back. He provided the crucial assist for Adeyemi's goal with a perfectly weighted pass. He was a constant outlet on the wing, delivering a high volume of crosses and creating several chances. On top of his attacking contribution, he was also solid defensively. An all-action display that really caught our eye.

Forwards

Serhou Guirassy - 6.0: A tough and thankless task for the striker today. He was isolated for large parts of the game and had to feed on scraps. He held the ball up well on occasion but was marshalled effectively by the Wolfsburg defence. He didn't get a clear sight of goal all game. A frustrating evening for a player of his quality.

Maximilian Beier - 6.5: He'll be wondering how he didn't score. He was lively and got into some great positions. He had a big chance with a header that was brilliantly saved by Grabara. His movement was a constant problem, but his finishing just wasn't there on the day. A promising performance that lacked the end product.

Karim Adeyemi - 8.5: The highest-rated player and undoubted man of the match. His goal was a moment of individual brilliance that decided the contest. Beyond the goal, he was a livewire throughout his time on the pitch. He was direct, aggressive, and constantly looked to take on his man. He drew fouls, got shots away, and was the main source of Dortmund's attacking threat. A superb, match-winning performance.

Substitutes

Carney Chukwuemeka - N/A: Came on and showed some nice touches but didn't have enough time to make a major impact.

Julian Brandt - N/A: Brought on to help see the game out, used his experience well in the final stages.

Jobe Bellingham - N/A: A brief cameo, looked comfortable in possession during his short time on the pitch.

Salih Özcan - N/A: A late defensive change to secure the win.

Manager

N. Kovač - 7.0: He set his team up well to control the game, especially in the first half. His side got the crucial goal and then managed the game professionally. His substitutions were logical, aimed at seeing out the narrow lead. A solid game plan that delivered the three points.

VfL Wolfsburg Player Ratings vs Borussia Dortmund

Here are the Wolfsburg player ratings vs Borussia Dortmund.

Goalkeeper

Kamil Grabara - 7.5: He can hold his head high despite the defeat. There was nothing he could do about Adeyemi's fantastic strike. He made a couple of brilliant saves, especially a point-blank stop from a header, that kept his team in the contest. A very strong and commanding performance from the Wolfsburg keeper.

Defenders

Kilian Fischer - 6.0: He had a really tough assignment trying to contain the likes of Adeyemi and Ryerson. He battled hard but was often second best in his duels. He was forced into committing a few fouls and struggled to offer much going forward. A difficult evening for the defender.

Konstantinos Koulierakis - 7.0: A solid display at the heart of the defence. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork with an effort. Defensively, he was strong, making some key blocks and clearances. He was composed on the ball but was part of a defence that couldn't quite contain Dortmund's main threats.

Moritz Jenz - 7.0: An absolute warrior at the back. The stats say he made nine clearances, and it felt like more. He threw his body on the line time and time again to block shots and cut out crosses. He was a dominant presence in the air and on the ground. A really committed and impressive defensive performance.

Joakim Mæhle - 5.5: Not a good day for the Danish international. He made an error that led directly to a shot, which is a big no-no for a defender. He also lost possession frequently and seemed to struggle with the pace of the game. He was substituted late on after a performance he'll want to forget.

Midfielders

Vinicius de Souza Costa - 6.0: He was tidy enough in his defensive midfield role for the hour he was on. He broke up a few plays and kept his passing simple. However, he didn't dominate the midfield battle and was taken off as his team chased the game. A steady but unspectacular outing.

Andreas Skov Olsen - 5.0: A really disappointing performance. He was completely anonymous in the first half, touching the ball only 15 times. He offered no threat and was unsurprisingly hooked at half-time. It just never happened for him, a passenger in the game.

Lovro Majer - 6.0: We expected more from a player of his creativity. He got on the ball in decent areas but couldn't find the killer pass to unlock the Dortmund defence. He worked hard but his influence was minimal before he was substituted. A frustrating day for the Croatian playmaker.

Maximilian Arnold - 7.5: Wolfsburg's best player by a distance. The captain led by example, driving his team forward from midfield. His delivery from set pieces was a constant threat, and he forced a good save from Kobel with a long-range strike. He was also excellent defensively, making tackles and interceptions all over the pitch.

Patrick Wimmer - 6.0: Full of running and endeavour, but the quality wasn't quite there. He got into some good positions but his final ball let him down. He did his defensive work diligently but offered very little attacking threat. An industrious but ultimately ineffective performance.

Forwards

Mohamed Amoura - 7.0: He looked the most likely to make something happen for Wolfsburg. He was a bundle of energy, winning an impressive number of duels and driving at the defence. He created a couple of good opportunities for his teammates and himself. His final product was just a bit wayward, but he was a constant thorn in Dortmund's side.

Substitutes

Adam Daghim - N/A: Brought on at halftime but couldn't change the flow of the game. Missed a late headed chance.

Mattias Svanberg - N/A: Added some physical presence to the midfield but had little impact.

Christian Eriksen - N/A: A surprising name on the teamsheet, but he couldn't sprinkle any magic on the proceedings.

Dzenan Pejcinovic - N/A: Introduced too late to make a difference.

Manager

P. Simonis - 6.0: His team was well-organized and defensively solid for large parts of the game. However, they looked short of ideas in attack and struggled to create clear chances. His substitutions didn't have the desired effect, and his side ultimately fell short. A frustrating day for the Wolfsburg boss.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Karim Adeyemi.