Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim – When Wolfsburg hosts fellow European contenders Hoffenheim at the Volkswagen Arena today, they will be hoping to make it three wins in a row.
After a poor run of play, the hosts have rapidly turned things around, while the visitors have also back to winning ways following their 2-0 victory last weekend.
Wolfsburg’s fortunes have turned dramatically in just two weeks, with the hosts breaking an 11-game winless drought – nine of which were defeats – with back-to-back Bundesliga victories.
Due to Florian Kohfeldt’s poor form, Die Wolfe were in danger of being relegated from the Bundesliga, but the two victories have moved them up to 12th place ahead of matchday 23.
As things stand, Wolfsburg is five points clear of the relegation zone, and has suddenly closed the gap to seven points on the European places.
Meanwhile, visitors Hoffenheim ended a recent run of poor form by defeating an in-form Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 at home on Sunday.
Since winning their first game of 2022 against Augsburg, the Kraichgauer had lost four straight games, three of which came in the Bundesliga.
Sebastian Hoeness’s side got back to their best for the first time since their excellent run of form that pushed them into the top four before Christmas, with goals from Benjamin Hubner and Georginio Rutter.
Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim – Team News:
With no new injury concerns, Kohfeldt could name the same starting lineup that beat Frankfurt last week, however Lukebakio replacing Maximilian Philipp after his goal from the bench is a possibility.
Kruse and fellow January signing Jonas Wind have made a significant impact in Wolfsburg’s last two games, and they will make up the rest of the forward line.
William, Xaver Schlager, and Paulo Otavio are all out for the foreseeable future, and Lukas Nmecha is still a few weeks away from recovering from a fractured ankle.
Micky van de Ven, a young defender who has been ruled out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, has joined them on the list of absentees.
The visitors’ victory over Bielefeld came at a price, as Florian Grillitsch and Dennis Geiger both received their fifth yellow cards of the season, ruling them out of Saturday’s match due to suspension.
However, the crucial Andrej Kramaric should return from COVID-19, and he should instantly return to the starting lineup.
Injury has ruled out Ermin Bicakcic and Robert Skov, while Chris Richards and Angelo Stiller are doubts owing to a foot ailment and illness, respectively.
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks; Baku, Arnold, Vranckx, Roussillon; Kruse, Philipp; Wind
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Posch, Vogt, Hubner; Bebou, Samassekou, Baumgartner, Raum; Kramaric; Rutter, Dabbur
Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim – Head-to-Head:
Our Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals
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