Hamburg vs Wolfsburg Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Wolfsburg can draw level on points with Hamburg with victory at the Volksparkstadion but that would mean them needing to end a run of four consecutive defeats.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Not streamed / US – ESPN+
Hamburg preview: Home comforts key
Since returning to the Bundesliga after a long absence, Hamburg have been reliant on their home form keeping them away from the dreaded relegation places. Their last two league matches played at the Volksparkstadion have ended in victory, with the most recent of those being a 4-0 thrashing of Mainz.
Since that eye-catching result, Hamburg have suffered their third league defeat of the season, going down 2-1 away to RB Leipzig to end a run of three matches unbeaten in the Bundesliga. But they competed well against a strong Leipzig team and remain in a promising position moving forwards.
Wolfsburg preview: Just staying afloat
Wolfsburg enter this latest round of Bundesliga fixtures just one place and one point above the bottom three. This is after they slumped to a fourth straight league defeat last time out, losing comprehensively by three goals to nil at home against high-flying Stuttgart, their fourth loss of the campaign.
Across these last four losses, Wolfsburg have found the net just once, underlining their struggles offensively, whilst it’s been a similarly bleak story at the back with Paul Simonis’ side having given up three goals in consecutive fixtures now.
Hamburg team news: Key doubts
The home team are dealing with a few key doubts for this weekend with Georgia international defender Giorgi Gocholeishvili potentially sidelined alongside Portugal international midfielder Fabio Vieira.
Predicted XI: Fernandes; Capaldo, Vuskovic, Elfadli; Mikelbrencis, Sambi Lokonga, Remberg, Muheim; Philippe, Konigsdorffer, Dompe
Unavailable: Omari (Injured)
Questionable: Gocholeishvili (Injured), Hefti (Injured), Vieira (Injured)
Wolfsburg team news: Several absentees
Wolfsburg are dealing with several confirmed absentees as they travel to the Volksparkstadion, particularly defensively. Denis Vavro is sidelined alongside the likes of Kevin Paredes, ogerio and Kilian Fischer.
Predicted XI: Grabara; Kumbedi, Jenz, Koulierakis, Maehle; Vinicius Souza, Eriksen; Daghim, Svanberg, Zehnter; Wind
Unavailable: Vavro (Injured), Paredes (Injured), Rogerio (Injured), Fischer (Injured), Paredes (Injured), Lindstrom (Injured)
Questionable: Wimmer (Injured)
Hamburg vs Wolfsburg prediction
Hamburg will no doubt be desperately to get back out there after falling just short last weekend as they look to take advantage of a Wolfsburg side likely to be lacking confidence and whose heads could drop very quickly if they were to concede the first goal in this one. The hosts also know they are going up against a backline playing extremely poorly right now and conceding too many goals.
When taking into account the horrendous recent form of Wolfsburg, not to mention Hamburg’s home record this season, it’s easy to see why this should be seen as a massive opportunity for the newly promoted side. With the crowd right behind them, back Hamburg to maintain fortress Volksparkstadion and make it three wins in a row at home.
Hamburg vs Wolfsburg tip: Hamburg to win
