Borussia Dortmund will look to keep themselves alive in the title race with a win over VfL Wolfsburg, who are pushing for a top-six finish.
Borussia Dortmund are all set to host seventh-placed VfL Wolfsburg at home. Dortmund are just a point behind league leaders Bayern Munich, and they are in desperate need of a win to keep themselves in the thick of things with just four games remaining. Meanwhile, the visitors have a chance to get into the top six with a win.
The home team were leading the race for the league title at one point in time. But, their inconsistent form allowed Bayern to claim the top spot. However, they are still alive in the race. Dortmund are just a point behind Bayern, having played the same number of games.
Meanwhile, the team in black and yellow will know exactly what they need to do in order to stay in the race as Bayern will play Werder a day earlier. Dortmund have only won two of their last five league games. And, they will have to improve on it if they want to have a shot at the title.
Their last outing against Bochum ended in a 1-1 draw. It was a disappointing result for the home team and they will look to put in a better shift this time around. Meanwhile, the visitors are currently 7th in the league, just two points behind sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Wolfsburg have a game in hand, as a result, a win will see them enter the top six. However, it won’t be an easy task as they are going up against a top-quality Dortmund squad. Wolfsburg are on a two-match winning run and would love to make it three in a row in the league. However, those wins are their only positive results in their last five league outings having lost just once.
They are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-0 win over Mainz. Niko Kovac’s men are in great form and they will look to create an upset here. In the reverse fixture between the two teams, Wolfsburg managed to claim all three points as they defeated Dortmund 2-0. They will hope for a similar result. However, it might not be that easy a game this time around. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News and Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
The home team will be without the services of Mateu Morey Bauza, Julien Duranville, Soumaila Coulibaly, Thomas Meunier, and Nico Schlotterbeck for this important fixture.
🎙 Edin Terzic on the defining factor if BVB were to make it at the end of the season:
"Come to the stadium on Sunday and have a look." pic.twitter.com/acBicnKT0i
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 5, 2023
Apart from the above-mentioned names, everyone else is expected to be available for Edin Terzic’s team. He could start with the 4-3-3 formation, where Gregor Kobel will be in goal. Raphael Guerreiro and Julian Ryerson will start out wide as the full-backs. Meanwhile, in the heart of the defence, Mats Hummels will pair up with Niklas Sule.
In the centre of the park, the highly sought-after Jude Bellingham will have the support of Julian Brandt and Emre Can. The trio will look to dictate the pace of the game and ensure Dortmund end up on the right side of the result.
In-form Donyell Malen will start on the right flank. Meanwhile, Karim Adeyemi will feature on the left. And, Sebastien Haller will be leading the line for the team in black and yellow.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Hummels, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Can, Brandt; Malen, Haller, Adeyemi
VfL Wolfsburg
The visitors will travel without the likes of Maxence Lacroix, Lukas Nmecha, Kevin Paredes and Paulo Otavio who are all out injured.
Niko Kovac will start with the tried and tested 3-4-2-1 formation. Koen Casteels will take charge in goal having kept three clean sheets in his last six outings. Meanwhile, the three central defenders will be Sebastiaan Bornauw, Josuha Guilavogui and Kilian Fischer. The trio will have a tough task of keeping out an in-form Dortmund attack.
Last time against Dortmund @MickyvandeVen 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UfrSgkSi4x
— VfL Wolfsburg EN/US 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) May 5, 2023
Ridle Baku and Jakub Kaminski will feature out wide in the centre of the park. The duo will feature as the wing-backs, they will have to help out their defence and push further up the field whenever the opportunity arises.
Maximilian Arnold and Yannick Gerhardt will start as the central midfielders. Meanwhile, Patrick Wimmer and Mattias Svanberg will feature in behind the striker. The duo will look to stay closer to their forward, Jonas Wind and feature as attacking midfielders.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Casteels; Bornauw, Guilavogui, Fischer; Baku, Gerhardt, Arnold, Kaminski; Svanberg, Wimmer; Wind
Key Stats
- In the last 26 fixtures between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg, the team in black and yellow have won 18. On the other hand, the visitors have only managed three wins.
- In the reverse fixture between the two teams, Wolfsburg managed to win 2-0.
- When Dortmund square up against Wolfsburg at home, the most common result is 2-1. Five matches have ended with that scoreline.
- In their last 53 meetings, the home team have won 32 while the visitors have won just 11 times.
- Wolfsburg’s last away win against the team in yellow and black came in 2012.
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham has been in outstanding form for Borussia Dortmund this season, both in terms of his defensive contribution and attacking output. With five goals and five assists in the league this season, he has been involved in ten goals, an impressive return for a midfielder.
In this crucial fixture against Wolfsburg, Bellingham’s ability to control the midfield and make decisive contributions in the final third will be crucial. Given his form and importance to the team, Bellingham will certainly be the player to watch out for. Just a few more games remain before he possibly joins Real Madrid. So the teenage sensation will be eager to make his mark.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 VfL Wolfsburg
This match is a crucial one for both teams, with Dortmund needing a win to keep their title hopes alive, while Wolfsburg are looking to secure a spot in the top six. Dortmund will come into this game with a point to prove after their disappointing draw against Bochum, and they will be eager to get back to winning ways.
On the other hand, Wolfsburg will be buoyed by their recent wins and will look to continue their winning momentum. However, they will need to be at their best if they are to take anything from this game, as Dortmund will be looking to make a statement. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for the home team.
