Berlin (AFP) – VfL Wolfsburg guaranteed their Bundesliga survival on Monday as Euro 2016-winner Vieirinha scored to secure a 1-0 win away at Eintracht Braunschweig that sealed a 2-0 aggregate victory in their relegation play-off.
Having won last Tuesday’s home leg 1-0 thanks to a Mario Gomez penalty, Wolfsburg were safe as Vieirinha smashed home the winning goal on the night just after the break.
Yanus Malli’s shot was saved, but the ball fell to the Portugal winger, who hit the back of the net with a first-time strike from the edge of the area.
It was heartbreak for Braunschweig, who finished third in Germany’s second division to earn their chance to face Wolfsburg, the 2009 German champions who finished 16th in the Bundesliga.
Braunschweig will play in the second division next season, while VfB Stuttgart and Hanover 96 were automatically promoted to the top flight, taking the place of Darmstadt and Ingolstadt, who were relegated.
