DFB Pokal action resumes in Germany as the Volkswagen Arena plays host to an all-Bundesliga clash between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund.
Ralph Hasenhuttl will take the opportunity in the DFB Pokal to aim for a trophy this season, although VfL Wolfsburg are already facing a difficult opponent in Borussia Dortmund in the next round. They were tasked with beating Koblenz in the first round and did so convincingly despite the 1-0 scoreline.
Wolfsburg are not in the best of forms. They languish in 14th place in the Bundesliga standings, with only two wins to show for their cause this term. However, the DFB Pokal is a contest they will want to progress in, although their current form and the fact that they face top-tier opposition in Borussia Dortmund make it all the more daunting for the home side.
Nuri Sahin, on the other hand, has probably had his worst week since taking over as Borussia Dortmund’s manager in the summer. The week did start in a stellar way at the Santiago Bernabeu, where his team took a 2-0 lead against Real Madrid at half-time, only to lose the game 5-2 after a solid showing from the hosts.
Then, at the weekend, they lost to Augsburg after going down to ten men, although Algumera Kabar was only dismissed in second-half injury time, as BVB had lost the game by then. Either way, Sahin will look to bounce back from the adversity of those morale-sapping defeats and progress in the DFB Pokal.
Team News & Tactics
VfL Wolfsburg
There’s no respite from Wolfsburg’s injury issues, as Ralph Hasenhuttl will be without midfielders Aster Vranckx, Kevin Paredes, Mattias Svanberg and Maximilian Arnold ahead of this midweek clash. Those absentees make it difficult for the manager to choose the right midfield pairing.
He will likely go with Salih Ozcan and Yannick Gerhardt, with Jonas Wind playing in the attacking midfield role. The squad has further injury issues, with left-back Rogerio and attacker Bartosz Bialek also being ruled out. Hasenhuttl will likely keep defender Sebastiaan Bornauw out of the team as he may want to avoid risking him for this clash.
Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, and Joakim Maehle will likely play their parts in the team and start against Dortmund. In the attack, Ridle Baku could join Wind, while Tiago Tomas will also have a place on the wing. Wolfsburg will have Mohamed El Amine Amoura leading the line up front.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Ozcan, Gerhardt; Baku, Wind, Tomas; El Amine Amoura
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund’s squad also has its share of injury troubles. Giovanni Reyna, Karim Adeyemi, and Julien Duranville are likely to be out at least until next month, meaning they will miss the Wolfsburg clash.
There are further issues, with Julian Ryerson, Niklas Sule, Waldemar Anton, and Yan Couto all ruled out for this game. In the meantime, Nuri Sahin might consider a changed-back four consisting of Yannik Luhrs, Almugera Kabar, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Emre Can.
The latter will play in the right-back role, as Kjell Watjen Watjen and Felix Nmecha will feature in central midfield. Marcel Sabitzer also doubts this one. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens will remain on the left wing, while Campbell and Julian Brandt will complete the attacking setup. Serhou Guirassy will continue to lead the line for Borussia Dortmund, hoping to trouble the Wolfsburg backline.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meyer; Can, Luhrs, Schlotterbeck, Kabar; Watjen, Nmecha; Campbell, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
Key Stats
- Wolfsburg have only three victories this season in all competitions.
- Wolfsburg are winless in their last five home games.
- Borussia Dortmund have lost their last four away matches in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven games in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
The in-demand English forward has been a shining light under Sahin this season, although the whole team has yet to perform to the level needed for Borussia Dortmund’s stature. Bynoe-Gittens will be relishing his prospects from here on, and it seems like he has cemented this position on the left side of the attack.
He might have been a bit fortunate with the injuries to stars like Karim Adeyemi and others, but he has taken his chances well. He does have a good enough chance to showcase that he can become one of the leaders in the attacking third by helping BVB progress into the next round of the DFB Pokal.
Prediction
VfL Wolfsburg 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
Wolfsburg’s form has been inconsistent this season, and it needs to improve drastically. However, with three wins in all competitions this season, Ralph Hasenhuttl will want to progress in the cup to build momentum for the current campaign, although their next opponent is a tough one.
BVB, on the other hand, are also on a bad run of form, especially away from home, having lost their last four games on the road. Nuri Sahin will want to progress in the cup and build momentum for the league games from there, meaning Borussia Dortmund are the favourites to take a win away from home at Wolfsburg.