Dortmund vs Wolfsburg
Initial Observations
Borussia Dortmund was in first place with five games remaining in the season. Still, traditionally, they were relegated to a score of 1-1 by relegation-threatened Bochum this past weekend, enabling Bayern Munich to reclaim first place. The hosts had been far more organized in 2024, but their frantic and chaotic match endings have returned in the past month or two. They now play Wolfsburg, who last weekend destroyed Mainz 05 by a score of three goals to zero in their pursuit of a top-seven finish and probable European qualifying. Although Dortmund is the favorite in this game, there is a good chance both teams will score.
If there was ever an unfavorable moment to play Wolfsburg, Germany this season, it is now. The Wolves have scored a combined eight goals in the past two matches with Bochum and Mainz and controlled a draw against Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen three matchdays ago. While a Europe League qualifying spot appears out of reach, Wolfsburg has every chance to be eligible for the European Conference League, with the German team only two points ahead. Also Read:Barcelona beats 10-man Osasuna with the help of Jordi Alba’s goal.
Dortmund Team News
Borussia Dortmund’s long-term absentees include Mateu Morey Bauza (knee) and Julien Durbanville (thigh), while Soumaila Coulibaly (knee), Thomas Meunier (muscle), and Nico Schlotterbeck (thigh) are also out injured. Donyell Malen, who has six goals and three assists in his previous six league games, will continue to help Sebastien Haller and Karim Adeyemi up the attack. Julian Brandt and Emre Can are anticipated to start in midfield with teenage wonder Jude Bellingham, who has 11 goals and seven assists this season across all competitions. Raphael Guerreiro is expected to stay left-back, with Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule taking over at center-back, leaving Julian Ryerson to play right-back.
Wolfsburg Team news
Wolfsburg will be without many players due to injuries, including Maxence Lacroix (shoulder), Lukas Nmecha (knee), Kevin Paredes (muscle), and Paulo Otavio (ankle). Following his brace against Mainz, Jonas Wind is going to lead the line, while Patrick Wimmer will try to add to his record of two goals and eight assists this season. Goalkeeper Koen Casteels, who has three clean sheets in his past six outings, will line up alongside the defense-minded three of Sebastiaan Bornauw, Joshua Guilavogui, and Kilian Fischer.
Dortmund’s previous match news
After the World Cup, BVB won eight consecutive Bundesliga games, netting no fewer than two goals in seven of them, but they have battled for stability since then, collecting three wins, three draws, and one defeat. Nonetheless, Dortmund is just one point behind Bayern Munich with four games left and it is worth remembering that Bayern has not been at their best recently, with three wins, two draws, and a total of four losses in their previous nine games across all competitions. Terzic’s men may also take heart from the simple fact that BVB has the best road record in the section, having taken twelve of their 14 league contests at Signal Iduna Park so far this year, including nine straight home triumphs since October.
Wolfsburg’s previous match’s news
Wolfsburg has the third-best away record in the German Bundesliga, having collected 24 points from the potential 45 on the road this season, trailing only Bayern Munich and Freiburg. Following a highly dismal bottom-half performance in 2021-22, the Wolves look to be on the right road again under Niko Kovac, with Mark van Bommel and Florian Kohfeldt both attempting – and failing – to stem the tide last season. Wolfsburg is coming off back-to-back victories, having won 5-1 at Bochum – who upset Dortmund when they were out – before overcoming Mainz 3-0, due largely to a brace by Jonas Wind.
Predicted Lineup
Borussia Dortmund’s possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Sule, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Can, Brandt; Malen, Haller, Adeyemi
Wolfsburg’s possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Bornauw, Guilavogui, Fischer; Gelhart, Baku, Wind, Kaminski; Svanberg, Wimmer; Arnold
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