European hopefuls Wolfsburg welcome relegation-threatened St Pauli to Volkswagen Arena for a Bundesliga contest on Saturday afternoon.
Nothing could separate these two sides when they faced off at Millerntor-Stadion just under five months ago when they played out a goalless stalemate.
Match preview
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After drawing 1-1 with relegation-threatened VfL Bochum and then losing by a narrow 1-0 scoreline to RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals, Wolfsburg return to winning ways when they beat Werder Bremen 2-1 in the Bundesliga last weekend.
Patrick Wimmer had scored just one goal in his first 19 Bundesliga appearances this season, but it was his brace that fired the Wolves to victory in Bremen, extending their unbeaten top-flight run to six matches.
Wolfsburg conceded late on in the win over Bremen, but they managed to hold on for maximum points having already dropped a league-high 16 points from winning positions in the Bundesliga this season.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side have now accumulated 37 points after 24 games, the same amount as last season with 10 games still remaining, and they have climbed up to seventh place, sitting just four points behind the Champions League positions.
Wolfsburg, who have failed to score in only two Bundesliga matches this season - including one against St Pauli (0-0) in October - will fancy their chances of securing a positive result on Saturday as they have lost just one of their last 10 home matches (W5 D4), albeit drawing each their last three.
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St Pauli suffered their fourth successive Bundesliga defeat without scoring last weekend when they were beaten 2-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund - their 15th league loss of the campaign.
Last season's second-tier champions have slipped to 15th in the top-flight standings and are hovering just four points above the relegation playoff position currently occupied by VfL Bochum, who St Pauli face on the final day of the season.
Alexander Blessin is tasked with finding the right formula to help St Pauli rediscover their form in front of goal, as no Bundesliga team have scored fewer goals than Kiezkicker (18) so far this season.
St Pauli are also the only team in Europe's top-five leagues who are yet to earn a single point from a losing position this term, but there is reason to be optimistic of success on Saturday as the have only lost one of their previous 15 meetings with Wolfsburg (W5 D9) in the top-two divisions, boasting a five-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga (W1 D4).
Team News
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Wolfsburg will be without Kamil Grabara (thigh), Sebastiaan Bornauw (foot), Lovro Majer (ankle), Lukas Nmecha (groin), Kevin Paredes (foot), Rogerio and Bartosz Bialek (both knee) due to injury, while Maximilian Arnold (knee) is doubtful.
Hasenhuttl may consider freshening up the right side of his team, with right-back Kilian Fischer and versatile attacker Tiago Tomas in contention to earn a recall at the expense of Mads Roerslev and Andreas Skov Olsen.
Jonas Wind in Wolfsburg's top scorer this season with 10 goals and he is expected to continue up front, with Mohammed Amoura - who has nine goals to his name - operating just behind.
As for St Pauli, Sascha Burchert (groin), Morgan Guilavogui (wrist), Connor Metcalfe (muscle), Karol Mets (knee), James Sands (ankle), Robert Wagner (thigh), Simon Zoller (calf) all remain out with injuries.
Manolis Saliakas will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI at right wing-back at the expense of Lars Ritzka, and this would allow Philipp Treu to move over to his favoured left wing-back role.
Johannes Eggestein has only scored three Bundesliga goals in 22 matches this season, but he is expected to continue up front, with Elias Saad and Noah Weisshaupt set to provide support in attack from the flanks.
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Muller; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Tomas, Svanberg, Vranckx, Wimmer; Amoura; Wind
St Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Nemeth, Wahl, Van der Heyden; Saliakas, Irvine, Smith, Treu; Saad, Eggestein, Weisshaupt
We say: Wolfsburg 2-0 St Pauli
Another tight affair similar to the reverse fixture cannot be ruled out here, but Wolfsburg will be regarded as favourites to come out on top. The hosts have made themselves difficult to beat in front of their own fans in recent months and we are backing them to pick up all three points against a St Pauli outfit struggling to score goals.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
