Buffaloes face extinction after Draxler inspires Wolfsburg to away victory

Gent's first taste of Champions League knockout football was soured by the visitors Wednesday, as Wolfsburg played spoilers at the Ghelamco Arena in Belgium with a 3-2 victory, courtesy of a tantalising Julian Draxler brace.

Draxler's deft effort moments before the half was outdone only by his goal nine minutes after the interval, when the German international nutmegged his way on a probing run before chipping a helpless Matz Sels.

Related - VIDEO: Julian Draxler hands Wolfsburg vital away goal vs. Gent

Max Kruse scored a third six minutes after Draxler cemented the result, giving Dieter Hecking's lot the luxury of resting some of his marquee players for the second leg in Lower Saxony.

Buffaloes skipper Sven Kums scored a consolation goal ten minutes from time, followed by a tally from sub Kalifa Coulibaly on the strike of time to breathe life into a fixture that seemed straightforward for the visitors. Too little, too late, as Gent will have to win by two goals in Germany to offset Wolfsburg's away goal advantage.

The Bundesliga side will now look forward to a Mar. 8 return fixture at the Volkswagen Arena, hoping to progress to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in club history.