Wolfsburg vs Paderborn Preview: Team News & Prediction | German Bundesliga Promotion/Relegation Play-Off
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Wolfsburg enter the two-legged Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-off as favourites against 2. Bundesliga third-placed finishers Paderborn and have home advantage in the first leg.
Kick-off date/time:
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Wolfsburg preview: Capitalising on home comforts
Wolfsburg had to win away at St. Pauli on the final day to guarantee themselves a 16th-place finish, thus avoiding automatic relegation. With the game tied at the hour-mark, Dieter Hecking’s side found a crucial second wind and two second-half goals ultimately silenced the Millerntor and handed Wolfsburg a chance to avoid a catastrophic relegation.
Each of the last six promotion/relegation play-offs have been won by the Bundesliga side, which underlines why Wolfsburg will be expected to get the better of Paderborn, especially when considering the players at their disposal. Just to be in this position makes this season a huge failure, but the inquest has to wait until after this coming Monday.
Paderborn preview: Nothing to lose
Paderborn weren’t expected to be in this position come the end of the 2. Bundesliga season. Heading into the final day, Hannover 96 held all the cards when it came to finishing in third-place. However, an equaliser in the final ten minutes from Nurnberg saw Hannover held to a 3-3 draw which opened the door for Paderborn.
Ralf Kettemann’s men took full advantage with a 0-2 win away at Darmstadt, scoring early through Stefano Marino before substitute Sven Michel sealed the deal in the closing minutes, securing third-place for Paderborn and setting up the promotion/relegation play-off. After having slumped in the final weeks of the regular season, this victory came just at the right time.
Wolfsburg team news: Multiple absentees
Wolfsburg won’t have either Patrick Wimmer or Jonas Wind back for this first-leg with Maxi Arnold also absent. They will have to make at least one change to the line-up that beat St. Pauli with midfielder Vinicius Souza suspended, meaning Yannick Gerhardt is likely to start.
Predicted XI: (3-5-2): Grabara; Belocian, Vavro, Koulierakis; Kumbedi, Svanberg, Gerhardt, Eriksen, Maehle; Daghim, Pejcinovic
Unavailable: Arnold (Injured), Dardai (Injured), Fischer (Injured), Rogerio (Injured), Seelt (Injured), Souza (Suspended), Wimmer (Injured), Wind (Injured)
Questionable:
Paderborn team news: Baur Suspension
Paderborn are also forced to make a change in central midfield due to a suspension, in their case Mika Baur being the guilty party, meaning a start for either David Kinsombi or Sebastian Klaas. However, defender Calvin Brackelmann is expected to play despite taking a knock on the final day.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Seimen, Hansen, Scheller, Brackelmann; Curda, Castaneda, Kinsombi, Sticker; Muller, Marino, Bilbija
Unavailable: Baur (Suspended), Hoffmeier (Injured), Obermair (Injured)
Questionable: Brackelmann (Fitness)
Wolfsburg vs Paderborn prediction
Whenever these two clubs have collided in the past, it’s been Wolfsburg who have often had the better of things. They are unbeaten in five previous games against Paderborn, winning three of those and it’s crucial that the hosts emerge victorious in this one, otherwise their Bundesliga status will be in severe peril ahead of the return leg.
Expect the hosts to dominate much of the possession and put the Paderborn backline under sustained pressure. The visiting side will of course, look to make waves of their own on the counter-attack and Wolfsburg will need to guard against leaving too much space in behind. But a squad of their quality is one that really should be able to outduel this Paderborn side and backing them to take a first-leg lead into Monday’s return fixture is the play to make.
Wolfsburg vs Paderborn tip: Wolfsburg to win
