Bundesliga wrap: Wolfsburg take vital step to safety

Wolfsburg earned a vital 4-1 win over Cologne on Sunday in the battle to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.

Croatia international Mario Mandzukic scored twice in the first half to give the hosts the lead at the Volkswagen Arena.

Striker Sebastian Freis netted just after Mandzukic’s second to keep Cologne within a goal going into the half-time break.

But a second-half brace from Iranian-German forward Ashkan Dejagah secured Wolfsburg their first win in five matches since Felix Magath returned as coach.

The victory sees Wolfsburg, third from bottom, close to within two points of 15th-placed Frankfurt.

Cologne are now just three points clear of the drop zone in 14th, with three matches of the season remaining.

In the other game on Sunday, Nuremburg played out a goalless draw at home to Mainz, in a match between two teams vying to finish fifth – the final Europa League qualification berth.

A point apiece leaves Mainz fifth, with Nuremburg two points back in sixth.