MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 07:10:32| >> :600:515529:515529:
[monks data]
Wolfsburg
Bundesliga | Gameweek 32
May 13, 2023 at 2.30pm UK
 
Hoffenheim logo

Wolfsburg
2 - 1
Hoffenheim

Kaminski (15'), Waldschmidt (75')
Baku (31'), Guilavogui (49')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Guilavogui (90+3' og.)
Bebou (51'), Akpoguma (88')

Preview: Wolfsburg vs. Hoffenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Hoffenheim could confirm their Bundesliga safety by beating Wolfsburg away from home on Saturday.

The hosts, meanwhile, would move above Bayer Leverkusen - who do not play until Sunday - into sixth place with a victory.


Match preview

VfL Wolfsburg's Ridle Baku reacts  on January 31, 2023© Reuters

Indeed, after registering a lowly-ranked 12th position last season, bringing European football back to the Volkswagen Arena would be regarded as an excellent achievement by Niko Kovac in his first campaign at the club.

The former Croatia international began life slowly in Lower Saxony, but several bursts of impressive form since those early games have seen the Wolves establish themselves as genuine Europa League contenders.

However, after registering successive victories against VfL Bochum and Mainz 05 in recent weeks, Wolfsburg were humbled by title contenders Borussia Dortmund in the form of a 6-0 thrashing at Westfalenstadion last weekend.

BVB displayed the significant gap in class between themselves and their opponents by scoring three times either side of half time, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham bagging himself a brace after the break.

Kovac will be determined for his side to bounce back as quickly as possible, particularly with a European spot still on the cards. With ninth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt through to the final of the DFB-Pokal, it remains to be seen how many European places are up for grabs via a league position, but sixth would certainly prove enough regardless of how Oliver Glasner's side fare against RB Leipzig next month.

Hoffenheim coach Pellegrino Matarazzo before the match on April 15, 2023© Reuters

Hoffenheim, of course, have had far lower ambitions in recent months, but Pellegrino Matarazzo appears firmly on course to guide the club away from relegation danger having made a hugely positive impact since being appointed as manager in February.

Die Kraichgauer registered their fourth win in seven league matches by dispatching Frankfurt 3-1 at Rhein-Neckar-Arena last weekend, with goals from Christoph Baumgartner, Andrej Kramaric and Ihlas Bebou providing the hosts with a comfortable three-goal cushion at half time.

Stanley Nsoki's dismissal three minutes after the break casted doubts over Hoffenheim's victory, though, especially when Mario Gotze pulled one back for the visitors six minutes later. However, Matarazzo's side stood firm despite their one-man disadvantage to move four points clear of the danger zone.

Should Bochum fail to beat Augsburg on Saturday, their hugely inferior goal difference compared to Hoffenheim would mean that victory against Wolfsburg on Saturday would guarantee that they would avoid automatic relegation as a worst case scenario, while Stuttgart's result against Leverkusen less than 24 hours later would also have a huge baring on matters.

Ultimately, Matarazzo and his players do not need to concern themselves with matters elsewhere too much, such is the strong position that they have put themselves in after looking perilously out of form at the bottom of the table as recently as March.

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:


Team News

Maxence Lacroix in action for Wolfsburg in November 2021© Reuters

Wolfsburg will remain without Maxence Lacroix, Paulo Otavio and Lukas Nmecha due to long-term injuries, with the trio unlikely to play again this season.

Having been thrashed in their last outing, Kovac may be tempted to make a few changes, with the likes of Yannick Gerhardt, Omar Marmoush and Kevin Paredes all pushing for starts this weekend.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, will be without Nsoki for two matches after his straight red card against Frankfurt last time out, with Ermin Bicakcic likely to replace him within the visitors' defence.

Kevin Vogt is not an option due to an ongoing knee injury, while Pavel Kaderabek and Justin Che have also been ruled out of taking part. Matarazzo is unlikely to make any other alterations to his starting XI after edging Frankfurt in extremely impressive fashion up until Nsoki's dismissal.


Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Baku, Bornauw, Van De Ven, Cozza; Arnold, Svanberg; Kaminski, Wimmer; Wind, Marmoush

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kabak, Bicakcic, Brooks; Bebou, Kramaric, Geiger, Promel, Angelino; Baumgartner, Dabbur


SM words green background

We say: Wolfsburg 1-2 Hoffenheim

Matarazzo is naming an extremely attacking starting XI at present, and we can envisage them out-gunning Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday.

Despite having European football to still contend for, the visitors' desperation for a victory is far greater given that they are not quite safe from the lingering fear of relegation, which is arguably the biggest motivation that any footballer can have at the elite level of football.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


ID:513541:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12130:
Written by
Brett Curtis

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim

Wolfsburg
60.0%
Draw
12.0%
Hoffenheim
28.0%
25
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Hoffenheim's Christoph Baumgartner celebrates after the match on March 18, 2023
Read Next:
Brighton to lodge summer bid for Baumgartner amid Caicedo uncertainty?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern14103142123033
2Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen1485132201229
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1483334201427
4RB Leipzig148332315827
5Freiburg147342019124
6Stuttgart146532924523
7Mainz 05Mainz146442519622
8Borussia DortmundDortmund146442521422
9Werder Bremen146442224-222
10Wolfsburg146353125621
11Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach146352319421
12Union BerlinUnion Berlin144551315-217
13Augsburg144461627-1116
14Hoffenheim143561926-714
15St Pauli143291119-811
16Heidenheim1431101831-1310
17Holstein Kiel1412111437-235
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum1403111135-243


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!