Wolfsburg were once seen as the dominant force in both the Frauen-Bundesliga and European women’s football.

However, a failure to adapt to the evolution of the women's game, to become more creative and to replace the ingenuity of former players have left them looking like a team of the past.

Their Champions League quarterfinal thrashing by Barcelona on Thursday brought their biggest issues to the fore, as they edge closer to their first trophyless season since 2013.

Barcelona show Wolfsburg the necessity for change

Wolfsburg elimination at the Johan Cruyff Stadium came at the hands of a Barcelona team that was simply superior in both tactical execution and individual quality.

The Catalan side’s quick passing, high pressing, and fluid attacking play overwhelmed Wolfsburg, who were unable to cope with the intensity and intricacy of Barcelona’s system 

In contrast Tommy Stroot's side remained rooted to a structured possession game and quick counterattacks, which ended in Wolfsburg suffering their biggest-ever aggregate defeat in the Champions League – with the quarterfinal finishing 10-2 in Barcelona's favor. 

After their first-leg loss in Germany, Wolfsburg midfielder, Janina Minge, admitted that team were unable to get a foothold on their opponents, telling DAZN: "At times we felt like headless chickens on the pitch... in the second half, we were just chasing after them."

The Shewolves' tactical stagnation under Stroot, who took over in 2021, has faced increasing scrutiny this season.

Opposition teams have learned out how to stifle Wolfsburg’s attacks by pressing them high up the pitch and forcing them into mistakes. 

Their reliance on long balls to stretch the opposition became a liability as more teams learned to deal with the threat as they stick too often to a relatively rigid 4-3-3 formation and have struggled to adjust in key moments. 

In their Champions League exit to Barcelona, Wolfsburg were unable to break down their opponents high pressing and fluid movement and lacked the necessary attacking variations to create meaningful opportunities.

Failure to replace key players proves costly

This season saw three important players to Wolfsburg's success depart as co-captain Dominique Janssen moved to Manchester United, lethal striker Ewa Pajor join Barcelona and Lena Oberdorf sign a contract with Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.

Pajor's pace, creativity, and clinical finishing were central to Wolfsburg’s ability to break down defenses making her a key part of their attacking unit. 

Without her, Wolfsburg’s attack has become predictable and lacked the same cutting edge and while her replacements are talented, they have not been able to replicate her impact. 

There have been ongoing issues with squad rotation and injuries all season too. Alexandra Popp and Svenja Huth remain key figures, injuries combined with a lack of depth in certain positions, have hampered the team’s ability to stay competitive on all fronts.

Bayern Munich now the dominant team in the Bundesliga

Until 2022, Wolfsburg were the most feared team in the Bundesliga but in the past two seasons have fallen short in the league to an impressive Bayern Munich side.

Munich have strengthened their squad and refined their tactical approach under head coach Alexander Straus to make them the dominant figure the league.

Oberdorf's decision to move from Wolfsburg to Bayern, which was announced in the February 2024, gave a clear insight of belief from one of Germany's most exciting young talents as to which team offered the biggest chance of future success.

"I really liked the club’s vision of what they want to achieve in the next few years. I was also shown where my potential lies and what else can be got out of me," Oberdorf said at the time. "I don't think I'm a complete player yet, but I want to get there." 

In contrast, Wolfsburg’s inconsistency has become more regular this season, having failed to ground out results against mid- to lower-tier teams, including suffering losses to Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen. 

With Eintracht Frankfurt growing alongside Bayern, Wolfsburg have slipped further behind in the league.

Unless the club see an influx of investment that enable them to make smart transfers, learn to adapt their tactics and return to consistency they showcased in their most successful years, they risk being left behind in the rapidly advancing landscape of European women’s football.

Edited by: Zac Crellin