Bundesliga | Gameweek 17

Jan 14, 2025 at 7.30pm UK

VOLKSWAGEN ARENA

Wolfsburg vs Borussia M'bach

Match preview

Wolves' clash with Hoffenheim was a tight affair, but the victors did well to limit their opponents to just two shots on target and one clear-cut chance.

The hosts' defensive display on Saturday will have come as a welcome relief to coach Ralph Hassenhuttl, whose side had conceded nine goals in their previous three matches.

Interestingly, although Wolfsburg's 33 Bundesliga goals are the fourth-best attacking return in the top flight, they have only managed 22.9 xG in the league.

Hassenhuttl's side have won one and lost two of their last three games, but they won their previous five.

It should be noted that the home side lost 3-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund on 22 December, but were unbeaten in their previous five matches at the Volkswagen Arena, winning four of those.

As for the visitors, they come into the game having only conceded once against Bayern, although they did create eight good chances and had more than four xGs.

Boss Gerardo Seoane was pleased with some aspects of his side's performance, telling reporters: "We're not entirely satisfied because we lost. We didn't manage to relieve the pressure when we won the ball. We switched to a double pivot in the second half. I don't think we allowed much up until the penalty. After that you just saw the quality of Bayern."

The Fohlen are just three points behind sixth-placed Freiburg, who occupy the only qualification spot in the Conference League, but they will need to improve their attacking threat if they are to qualify for Europe, as their league goal tally of 25 is the second-worst in the top 11.

Seoane's side have had a mixed run of form in recent weeks, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their last five Bundesliga games.

The visitors have struggled away from home for some time, losing four times, drawing twice and winning just one of their last seven away games.

Recent Performance

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:WWWLLW

Wolfsburg form (all competitions):WWWLLW

Borussia Monchengladbach Bundesliga form:WLDWWL

Team News

Wolfsburg will be without suspended striker Tiago Tomas, as well as Bartosz Bialek, Kevin Paredes, Lovro Majer, Lukas Nmecha and Mohamed El Amine Amoura, who missed the Hoffenheim game through injury.

Jonas Wind could be joined up front by Patrick Wimmer and Jakub Kaminski, while Yannick Gerhardt could partner Maximilian Arnold and Bence Dardai in midfield.

With goalkeeper Niklas Klinger and left-back Rogerio also ruled out, Joakim Maehle could start at left-back in front of goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.

Borussia Mönchengladbach, meanwhile, have relatively few absentees, although winger Nathan N'Goumou will not be in the matchday squad due to injury, while Franck Honorat is a doubt.

Kevin Stoger, Alassane Plea and Robin Hack are expected to support striker Tim Kleindienst in front of midfielders Rocco Reitz and Julian Weigl.

Elsewhere, centre-backs Ko Itakura and Nico Elvedi have been regular starters this season and are likely to start in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas.

Possible starting lineup

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Dardai, Arnold, Gerhardt; Wimmer, Wind, Kaminski

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:

Nicolas; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Ullrich; Reitz, Weigl; Stoger, Plea, Hack; Kleindienst