RB Leipzig will host the DFB-Pokal quarter-final against VfL Wolfsburg, with Marco Rose’s men eager to avenge their heaviest defeat of the season.
Marco Rose was under tremendous pressure the last time RB Leipzig played a DFB-Pokal clash when they were on a six-match winless run that included five defeats. RB Leipzig eventually ended that run with a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt to book their place in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals as they now host VfL Wolfsburg.
Incidentally, Leipzig are once again in a difficult place with their results as they only have two wins in their last nine games across all competitions, which also includes five draws. Those results, particularly in the Bundesliga have mounted the pressure back on Rose, given he will have to finish in the top four to save his job at the club.
Away from the matters in the Bundesliga, Rose will want to progress to the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal. However, they will have to overcome the challenge posed by Wolfsburg, who incidentally handed Leipzig their heaviest defeat of the season so far on home soil.
Wolfsburg are not in a great vein of form heading to the Red Bull Arena, as their five-match unbeaten run does mask their deficiencies, as it includes only one win and four draws. There are question marks about their consistency under Ralph Hasenhuttl, that continues to hurt their chances of making it to one of the European places.
In the DFB-Pokal, Wolfsburg have been dreadful since winning the competition in 2014/15, and in fact, they have never reached the semi-finals since that season. They also have a bad record away from Leipzig in this competition, losing each of their last three visits to the DFB-Pokal here, including the one in 2020/21 in a quarter-final clash.
Team News & Tactics
RB Leipzig
Marco Rose will have some selection decisions on his mind, as he would have to be content with a few key stars. Benjamin Henrichs mises out with an Achilles tendon problem, while Assan Ouedraogo will be absent with a hamstring issue. The duo join Xaver Schlager and Antonio Nusa on the sidelines, with the pair sidelined with knee issues.
Rose might persist with a 4-4-2, with David Raum, Castello Lukeba, Willi Orban, and Ridle Baku taking up their places in the back four. Xavi Simons will once again operate from a wide position on the right in a four-man midfield, while Nicolas Seiwald operates in a similar role on the left wing.
Amadou Haidara could replace Christoph Baumgartner in central midfield should the latter fail to recover from a knock he suffered in the last game. Haidara will be expected to partner uo with Kevin Kampl in the middle of the park. Up front, Rose will not look to disrupt the attacking partnership of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Vandevoordt; Raum, Lukeba, Orban, Baku; Simons, Haidara, Kampl, Seiwald; Openda, Sesko
VfL Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg are dealing with their share of injury problems, as Ralph Hasenhuttl will have to shuffle his pack for this crunch clash at the Red Bull Arena.
For starters, Rogerio and Niklas Klinger are missing from action, while Kamil Grabara has a hamstring problem that will keep him out, too. There are others like Bartosz Bialek, Lukas Nmecha, Lovro Majer, and Kevin Paredes still in the treatment room.
Hasenhuttl will persist with his own 4-4-2 shape on the pitch, with Marius Muller set to continue between the sticks. At the back, Kilian Fischer and Joakim Maehle will be the full-back options for Wolfsburg, with central defenders Denis Vavro and Konstantinos Koulierakis keeping their spots.
Tiago Tomas and Patrick Wimmer are set to operate in the wide areas of the four-man midfield, with Mattias Svanberg and Aster Vranckx in the middle. Hasenhuttl will likely go with a front two of Mohamed El Amine Amoura and Jonas Wind.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Muller; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Tomas, Svanberg, Vranckx, Wimmer; Wind, Amoura
Key Stats
- RB Leipzig have two wins in their last nine games across all competitions.
- RB Leipzig suffered the heaviest defeat of their season earlier against VfL Wolfsburg at home.
- Wolfsburg have lost their their last three games in the DFB-Pokal away at RB Leipzig.
- VfL Wolfsburg have not reached the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal since lifting the cup in 2014/15.
Player to Watch
Xavi Simons
Simons has had another decent season at RB Leipzig, but his numbers have dropped considerably which could be in connection with the team’s overall form this term. Having made his move to the Red Bull Arena a permanent one in January, Simons may not see his long-term future there, given he only signed a short deal until 2027.
For starters, Leipzig need him at his best form in the coming part of the season, and Simons himself must do better to better his chances of a big move next summer. Hence, he will be one of the players to watch in this quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal, as Marco Rose will hope the Dutchman is instrumenta; in exacting revenge over Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men.
Prediction
RB Leipzig 2-1 VfL Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg may have a five-game unbeaten run to show for their cause, but in reality, it only consists of one win, with the rest of the games ending in a draw. They are not at their best form heading to the Red Bull Arena, where they will be hoping for another big victory, which may not come this time around.
Leipzig, on the other hand, will have their priorities clear, and while they, too, are not in a great vein of form, the slight advantage of playing at home could work in their favour. Leipzig are expected to move into the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal as a narrow win over their opponents Wolfsburg appears to be the likely outcome here.
