Wolfsburg will be involved in an all-top-flight clash in the DFB-Pokal when they host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday at Volkswagen Arena.
The Wolves beat Koblenz 1-0 in the first round of the competition in August and are 14th in the Bundesliga with eight points, while Nuri Sahin's Dortmund beat Phonix Lubeck 4-1 in August to reach the second round.
Match preview
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Wolfsburg might have only beaten Koblenz 1-0, but they were never truly troubled by their opponents during that match given they accumulated 78% possession and conceded just one shot on target.
Tuesday's hosts have only won three of their nine competitive games this season, including just two in the league.
In their last outing, boss Ralph Hasenhuttl's side drew 0-0 with newly-promoted St Pauli on Saturday, a match in which they failed to score despite producing two big chances and six shots from inside the penalty area.
Hasenhuttl was pleased with the result, saying that the team had more opportunities after half time and that his players managed to find the balance between maintaining defensive stability while still creating chances in the final third.
Wolfsburg have lost three, drawn two and won just one of their last six matches and have also been beaten four and drawn one of their five most recent games at home.
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Meanwhile, Dortmund come into the clash in desperate need of a win considering they lost 2-1 against Augsburg on Saturday, as well as 5-2 against Real Madrid last Tuesday.
BVB's defeat against Real was particularly alarming, with the team conceding five second-half goals despite having taken a 2-0 lead after just 34 minutes.
Sahin's appointment was met with a degree of optimism by fans, but the Dortmund manager has come under pressure in recent weeks for his side's defensive frailty.
Indeed, the visitors have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven matches, a period in which they have conceded 18 times, though they scored on 19 occasions.
Dortmund are currently seventh in the Bundesliga with 13 points after eight matchweeks and are already seven points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Sahin will be concerned that his side have lost their last four away matches, conceding 14 times and scoring five goals.
Team News
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Wolfsburg have somewhat of an injury crisis in midfield given they will be without Aster Vranckx, Kevin Paredes, Mattias Svanberg and Maximilian Arnold.
Left-back Rogerio and forward Bartosz Bialek are also ruled out, while centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw is unlikely to be risked, so expect Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Joakim Maehle to start in defence.
Ridle Baku, Jonas Wind and Tiago Tomas may feature in attack behind striker Mohamed El Amine Amoura.
Dortmund also have numerous injury absentees, including forwards Giovanni Reyna, Karim Adeyemi and Julien Duranville, who are all out until next month.
Elsewhere, defenders Julian Ryerson, Niklas Sule, Waldemar Anton and Yan Couto are also ruled out, so perhaps Sahin will field a back four consisting of Yannik Luhrs, Almugera Kabar, Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can.
Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer is a doubt, and in his absence the visitors could line up with Kjell Watjen and Felix Nmecha in a double pivot.
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Ozcan, Gerhardt; Baku, Wind, Tomas; El Amine Amoura
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Meyer; Can, Luhrs, Schlotterbeck, Kabar; Watjen, Nmecha; Campbell, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
We say: Wolfsburg 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
BVB are in desperate need of a victory, but it is difficult to see them winning in a comfortable manner.
It would not be surprising if Wolfsburg scored first, but given their poor home form, they may struggle to hold onto a lead.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
