After an embarrassing performance in Heidenheim, Dortmund made up for it when they beat Freiburg without too much trouble a week ago. Borussia remains undefeated following the New Year, and Wolfsburg, on the other hand, has been struggling for several weeks, and will try to extend this streak.
Dortmund have conceded only one goal in the five games they have played so far following the winter break. On the contrary, he himself scored thirteen times in the same period, thanks to which he won thirteen points out of a possible fifteen. As a result, the “Schwarzgelben” began to climb the Bundesliga table. They overtook Leipzig and before the start of the 22nd round, they sit in fourth position with a three-point loss to third-placed Stuttgart.
BVB obviously wants to continue collecting points. “Stability is a big goal. We don’t want to be consistent only over the course of weeks, but also within one match, as we did once morest Freiburg,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic. That’s exactly what his charges didn’t do very well in the autumn of last year. However, as the comfortable victory over SCF Freiburg just showed, maybe he is looking forward to better times.
In Wolfsburg, on the other hand, they look for a glimpse of a brighter tomorrow in vain. “Wolves” have been waiting two months for a victory in the Bundesliga. Since then, they have drawn four games and lost twice. Instead of the expected attack on the European cup, VfL is falling down the table of the highest German competition, while it can easily get involved in rescue battles.
So it is not surprising that there is speculation regarding the dismissal of coach Niko Kovac. The Croatian himself tries to avoid the pressure by following the words of the former manager of Leverkusen (where Kovać worked as a player) Reiner Calmund and concentrates only on his work – or so he claims. “(Calmund) told me at the time: When things are going well, you can read everything, when things are not going well, don’t read anything. I stick to that, I listen to the elders,” said the Wolfsburg captain, adding that he had not touched a newspaper for some time.
Against Dortmund, Kovac should have the opportunity to use goalkeeper Koen Casteels, who is fit once more following overcoming a sore back. After long absences, midfielder Patrick Wimmer and striker Lukas Nmecha return. And since midfielder Aster Vranckx and forward Tiago Tomás have also overcome minor health problems, only left back Roério remains on the decrepit Wolfsburg.
Schwarzgelben also reports good news. New African champion Sébastien Haller has returned from the continental championship and it is possible that he will help BVB’s attack on Saturday. A week ago once morest Freiburg, right-back Mateu Morey ended his almost three-year wait to return following a long-term injury. His counterpart from the left side of the defense, Rama Bensebaini, did not train during the week, but he should be ready for Wolfsburg. Of the important players, Borussia is missing “only” midfielder Felix Nmecha and winger Karim Adeyemi.
VfL Wolfsburg – probable line-up:
Casteels – Baku, Lacroix, Jenz, Mæhle – Svanberg, Arnold – Černý, Majer, Paredes – Wind
Borussia Dortmund – probable line-up:
Kobel – Ryerson, Süle, N. Schlotterbeck, Maatsen – Sabitzer, Can – Malen, Brandt, Sancho – Füllkrug
Tipsport odds: 3.54 – 3.93 – 2.03
Tip EuroFotbal.cz: 0
