A subdued start to the game was quickly brought to life by the hosts, who knocked the ball around well, yet as the game approached the 15-minute mark, neither side had really threatened.
Some typical magic from the visitors’ Christian Eriksen changed that, as he picked out Adam Daghim’s brilliant solo run, and the forward made no mistake in firing home the contest’s first shot on target.
That appeared to spark Hamburg into life, though they were unable to make any inroads during a sustained period of possession.
Wolfsburg eventually began to enjoy some controlled possession of their own, but Hamburg were still able to threaten with both Nicolai Remberg and William Mikelbrencis soon going close.
Jean-Luc Dompé was the next to try his luck with the hosts’ first shot on target as HT approached, and their pressure prompted Wolfsburg’s Konstantinos Koulierais into bringing down Albert Sambi Lokonga in the area with a slide tackle, resulting in a penalty.
However, Ransford Königsdörffer’s spot-kick was easily saved by Kamil Grabara, and Sambi Lokonga’s excellent effort could only find the woodwork as Wolfsburg clung on to their slender lead.
The hosts started the second half strongly with Sambi Lokonga, Königsdörffer and Miro Muheim having shots at goal. Muheim soon had Grabara at full-stretch again to deny his shot which was destined for the bottom left corner, with Hamburg continuing to have the better chances despite conceding the lion’s share of possession.
As the game entered its final stages, more urgency from both sides saw a lack of quality on the ball, with Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold keeping the hosts at bay with a series of well-timed challenges as Hamburg continued to press.
Grabara had to be at his best again when Rayan Philippe and Fábio Vieira had shots at goal in quick succession, but Hamburg’s desire to get forward and grab a late equaliser inevitably left huge gaps at the back, and Daghim really should’ve added his second late on.
That miss proved immaterial as Wolfsburg secured their first win in six Bundesliga games, sending them level on points with their hosts and into mid-table.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kamil Grabara (Wolfsburg)