In a match that could have significant ramifications on the race for European football and Bundesliga survival, Wolfsburg will welcome Holstein Kiel to Volkswagen Arena on Friday.
The hosts were beaten 3-2 by league leaders Bayern Munich last Saturday but are in seventh place with 27 points, while the visitors are second last in 17th place with 11 points and lost 3-1 against Hoffenheim on January 18.
Match preview
© Imago
The Wolves were fortunate that the scoreline against Bayern was respectable considering the victors created eight big chances and conceded twice despite only facing one big chance.
Wolfsburg are just one point from sixth-placed Mainz 05, who occupy the league's Conference League qualification spot, and have just 10 points fewer than the total they achieved last term.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side beat Holstein Kiel 2-0 away from home in the Bundesliga on August 31, a game in which both teams produced seven shots from inside the box but neither of them created many threatening opportunities in front of goal.
The home team won the two fixtures prior to their loss against Bayern, though they have been beaten in three of their past five matches, scoring 11 and conceding 10 in that period.
Wolfsburg's home form is excellent, with the club achieving victory in four of their most recent outings at Volkswagen Arena, losing just one of their last seven at home.
© Imago
Opponents Holstein Kiel did not face a single big chance against Hoffenheim yet trailed 3-0 by the 56th minute.
Boss Marcel Rapp will be concerned that his team only managed to produce one big chance of their own, though his side do rank joint 13th in the Bundesliga in that metric.
Though Rapp's side are second last - six points and two places from safety - but they are only three points from 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the division's relegation playoff spot.
It should also be noted that they have triumphed in two of their last four Bundesliga fixtures – losing the other two – and have collected more points in that time than they did in their first 14 league games.
However, Holstein Kiel have failed to win away from home this term in the top flight, succumbing to defeat in their past five on the road and six of their eight away matches in the league.
Team News
© Imago
Hasenhuttl will be unable to start either defender Rogerio or goalkeeper Niklas Klinger, so perhaps Kamil Grabara will be shielded by Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Joakim Maehle.
Midfielders Kevin Paredes and Lovro Majer will not be in the matchday squad, and that could mean Maximilian Arnold, Bence Dardai and Yannick Gerhardt start together on Friday.
Forward Mohamed El Amine Amoura scored twice against Bayern, and he may be supported by Jonas Wind and Tiago Tomas given Jakub Kaminski and Bartosz Bialek are injured.
As for Holstein Kiel, they will not be able to select defenders Timo Becker, Colin Kleine-Bekel, Carl Johansson, David Zec or Patrick Erras.
Considering their injury issues in defence, the visitors could start Marko Ivezic, Max Geschwill and Marco Komenda in a back three.
Elsewhere, midfielder Lewis Holtby is suspended, so expect Nicolai Remberg and Magnus Knudsen to feature in a double pivot.
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Gerhardt, Arnold, Dardai; Tomas, Wind, Amoura
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Ivezic, Geschwill, Komenda; Rosenboom, Remberg, Knudsen, Porath; Bernhardsson, Machino; Harres
We say: Wolfsburg 3-0 Holstein Kiel
Though Wolfsburg have been defensively frail in recent weeks, it is difficult to see Holstein Kiel posing much of a challenge given their poor away form.
Additionally, the visitors are in the midst of a defensive injury crisis, and it would be surprising if they managed to keep the hosts from scoring multiple goals on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
