Wolfsburg vs Borussia Dortmund
, KO: 19:45 Oct 29, 2024, Volkswagen Arena
Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund would have preferred to meet later in this competition but one of the teams will now exit the DFB Pokal in the 1/16 Finals.
Gone are the days when Wolfsburg played a major role in the German top flight. The Lower Saxony side is currently near the danger zone in the Bundesliga, with only eight points after eight rounds in the new season.
There is a positive side to their performance – the team does score a lot of goals, but their defence often makes it impossible to win points, hence the bad results. Wolfsburg scored at least one goal in every fixture but last weekend's visit to St Pauli.
Pressure is piling up on Dortmund's manager as Nuri Sahin's men picked up a third defeat in four matches on Saturday. As strong as BVB have been at home, the team has four defeats in a row on the road.
Their only away wins this season came against Club Brugge in the Champions League and against Phonix Lubeck in the previous round of the DFB Pokal.
While the team doesn't lack firepower up front, their defence often disappears. The team conceded 14 goals in eight Bundesliga rounds, nine of which in the last three away games, which they also lost (Augsburg 2-1, Union Berlin 2-1, Stuttgart 5-1).
How the bookies view it: Always the same favourite
Wolfsburg haven't been favourited against Dortmund in over a decade. Betano estimated their chances of eliminating BVB at 37/14, while the visitors sit at 19/20. You can bet on the draw at 14/5.
Recent head to head: Wolfsburg's least favourite rival?
BVB have dominated this rivalry over the last few years, often keeping a clean sheet. Dortmund won eight of the last ten H2Hs and the combined goal difference is 26:5 in their favour.
Players to watch: A new young English prospect
Wolfsburg have an extensive list of injuries, which may force Ralph Hasenhuttl to opt for the best he has available. He doesn't have many options for rotations.
Alternatively, Nuri Sahin has to make changes in order not to risk more injuries. Jamie Gittens was the team's best player against Augsburg and we expect him to be one of the few that make it to the squad again on Tuesday.
The youngster has scored 5 goals in 12 appearances this season and we see no better option when both Adeyemi and Guirassy are not on the pitch.
Probable line-ups
Wolfsburg: Grabara, Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle, Baku, Ozcan, Arnold, Tomas, Wind, Amoura
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Kabar, Gross, Brandt, Can, Malen, Beier, Gittens
Anything else catch the eye?
While the majority of the recent H2Hs ended with less than three goals, both sides are playing different football now and with this being a DFB pokal fixture, we expect goals.
Borussia Dortmund have played 12 official games since the start of the season and scored 31 goals. But they also conceded 21 times. Wolfsburg's schedule is less packed this season and we expect Ralph Hasenhuttl to come out with a stronger squad than the visitors.
And even with a rotated squad, Dortmund have the capacity to score goals and even beat Wolfsburg. The best bet here is for both teams to score goals.
This match between Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund will be played on Oct 29, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Wolfsburg vs Borussia Dortmund prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
