Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Three points here for Hoffenheim away at Wolfsburg would make it three league wins in a row for Christian Ilzer’s side.
Kick-off date/time:
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Wolfsburg preview: Breaking the rut
Wolfsburg had lost four Bundesliga games in a row before travelling to newly promoted Hamburg. An excellent defensive performance saw them edge out the hosts in a crucial 0-1 victory, snapping their losing streak. But with just nine goals scored so far in eight rounds of fixtures, they need to improve from an attacking perspective.
Frustratingly though for Wolfsburg, they could not immediately follow that result up in midweek, as they had a man sent off in the first-half, setting the stage for a 0-1 DFB-Pokal defeat at the hands of 2. Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel.
Hoffenheim preview: Penalty heartache
Hoffenheim have really started to put things together of late, recording back-to-back league wins against St. Pauli and Heidenheim respectively. Their offensive power proved to be key in both of those games and is likely to be vital again here. They’ve outscored Wolfsburg this season by six goals so far.
But like Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim exited the DFB-Pokal in midweek and in tough fashion after losing via a penalty shootout against St. Pauli despite leading the game after 120 minutes. But a 122nd minute equaliser in extra led to St. Pauli’s shootout success.
Wolfsburg team news: Several absentees
Wolfsburg will once again be missing a significant number of players with Lindstrom, Maehle, Paredes, Rogerio, Fischer and Jenz all out injured for the home side.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Grabara; Kumbedi, Seelt, Koulierakis, Zehnter; Arnold, Gerhardt; Daghim, Eriksen, Amoura; Wind
Unavailable: Fischer (Injured), Jenz (Injured), Lindstrom (Injured), Maehle (Injured), Paredes (Injured), Rogerio (Injured)
Questionable:
Hoffenheim team news: Doubtful defenders
Defenders Arthur Chaves and Vladimir Coufal are suffering with face and knee injuries respectively and both could miss out here. If they are ruled out, the pair will join Gendrey, Hlozek and Machida on the sidelines.
Predicted XI: (4-4-2): Baumann; Prass, Hranac, Hajdari, Bernardo; Kramaric, Avdullahu, Burger, Toure; Asllani, Lemperle
Unavailable: Gendrey (Injured), Hlozek (Injured), Machida (Injured)
Questionable: Chaves (Injured), Coufal (Injured)
Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim prediction
With Wolfsburg having got themselves back to winning ways in the league, the onus is now on them to back that result up with another positive one here. Especially after that rough loss in the DFB-Pokal. Hoffenheim were also beaten midweek, but their recent Bundesliga resurgence cannot be ignored.
The recent scoring form of the visitors may well be what tips the scales in their favour, especially with them having found the net three times in each of those last two league victories. It will be very difficult for Wolfsburg to outscore them, which leans us towards backing Hoffenheim via the double chance market to take something from the Volkswagen Arena.
Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim tip: Double chance - draw/Hoffenheim
