Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
VfL Wolfsburg host Borussia Dortmund in the Volkswagen Arena on Matchday 15 of the 2015/16 Bundesliga season on Saturday.
It's a true six-pointer, as the third-placed Wolves meet the second-placed Black and Yellows. Already seven points behind Saturday's visitors, Wolfsburg might feel a sense of urgency in this fixture. They can rely on their impressive form in front of their supporters; Wolfsburg haven't lost at home since March 2014.
After selling superstar Kevin De Bruyne late in the summer transfer window, the Lower Saxony-based side are struggling to create goals. They have the fourth-best attack in the league with 23 goals, but six of those came in their last game at home against Werder Bremen. Wolfsburg are tough to beat, however, because of their defensive record. They have conceded the third-fewest goals (15) and kept the second-highest number of clean sheets (6).
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Wolfsburg are coming off a rather disappointing goalless draw with FC Augsburg on Nov. 29.
Dortmund, meanwhile, ended their mini-rut on the last matchday, beating VfB Stuttgart 4-1 after suffering two consecutive defeats for the first time under head coach Thomas Tuchel.
The Black and Yellows haven't won at Wolfsburg since April 2012, however, and have only beaten the Wolves once in the six meetings since. Last season, Dortmund lost 2-1 at Wolfsburg, with Daniel Caligiuri opening the scoring for the hosts inside the first minute of the game.
The two sides met in the final of the DFB-Pokal in Berlin two weeks after the last encounter in Wolfsburg in Jurgen Klopp's final game in charge of Dortmund. The Wolves thoroughly deserved their first cup triumph, as they overcame an early deficit with three first-half goals.
Date: Saturday, December 5
Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. local time
Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK only)/FS 2 (U.S. only)
Live Stream: BT Sport live streaming (UK only)/Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S. only)
Form Guide
| Wolfsburg | Dortmund |
| PSV: Loss (2-0) | Qabala: Win (4-0) |
| Mainz: Loss (2-0) | Schalke: Win (3-2) |
| Bremen: Win (6-0) | Hamburg: Loss (3-1) |
| CSKA Moscow: Win (2-0) | Krasnodar: Loss (1-0) |
| Augsburg: Draw (0-0) | Stuttgart: Win (4-1) |
Predicted Lineups
Wolfsburg
Benaglio; Trasch, Naldo, Klose, Rodriguez; Guilavogui, Arnold; Vieirinha, Kruse, Draxler; Dost.
Dante is suspended after collecting a second yellow five minutes from time in the recent draw with Augsburg. Switzerland international Timm Klose will replace the Brazilian. Luiz Gustavo is doubtful with back problems. Josuha Guilavogui took his place last time out and would likely remain in the starting lineup if Gustavo can't play.
Julian Draxler returns from his suspension, but a spot in the starting XI isn't guaranteed, with Andre Schurrle showing an uptick in form in recent games and Caligiuri also an option.
Dortmund
Burki; Piszczek, Bender, Ginter, Schmelzer; Castro, Gundogan, Kagawa; Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Reus.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Mats Hummels and Julian Weigl all missed training sessions in the week with flu-like symptoms and Tuchel said in his press conference they won't make the trip to Wolfsburg. Sven Bender and Gonzalo Castro replaced Hummels and Weigl last time out and should thus stay in the starting lineup, leaving one centre-back spot up for grabs.
Matthias Ginter seems to be the more likely option compared to Neven Subotic, whose last appearance for Tuchel's side came on October 1. We highlighted the Serbian's struggles this season during the November international break.
Ginter hasn't played in the heart of defence since a Europa League qualifier against Odds BK in August, however, so it's far from a lock that Tuchel will thrust him into the starting lineup there against a side as strong as Wolfsburg.
Unlikely—but not out of question—is a lineup with three defenders at the back.
Players to Watch
Germany international Max Kruse had a bit of a slow start to his career at the VW Arena after making the move from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer, failing to find the net outside of a DFB-Pokal tie against 3. Liga side Stuttgarter Kickers until mid October.
Since then, though, he's really come on, scoring a hat-trick against Hoffenheim, a brace against Bremen and an important goal in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven.
A hybrid between offensive midfielder and striker, the 27-year-old is very tough to defend against when he's on his game. His movement, creativity and shooting technique will give Dortmund all they can handle.
For the visitors, meanwhile, a lot will fall on the shoulders of Ilkay Gundogan. Without the regular center-back pairing and Weigl shielding the back line from his position in defensive midfield, Germany international Gundogan will have extra responsibilities in this game.
Even if it means he's less effective going forward, the 25-year-old must help out in defence, especially considering Kruse likes to roam in the spaces Gundogan will be asked to cover in the absence of Weigl.
Key Battle: Wolfsburg's Attack vs. Dortmund's Makeshift Back Line
It's not exactly rocket science to see where this game will in all likelihood be decided. Dortmund's undermanned defence will have its hands full with Wolfsburg's attack. Whether it's Ginter or Subotic next to Bender, neither has played that position in recent weeks.
Bas Dost is a traditional No. 9, meaning he's not going to elope to the flanks or fall into the hole behind the striker. Rather, he'll be trying to get on the end of crosses and cut backs. While he's relatively easy to cover, Wolfsburg's other attacking players will demand a lot of attention—both on the wings and with Kruse in his hybrid role—which could free Dost of his markers.
Dortmund will have to hope their prolific attack can help them eke this game out—and you wouldn't bet against the incredible form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helping them to do just that.
At any rate, fans and viewers can hope for a lot of goals in this game; the fixture has produced just two goalless draws in the 18 years since Wolfsburg made the jump to the German top flight.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Wolfsburg: 333-100
Draw: 14-5
Dortmund: 5-6
Lars Pollmann is a featured columnist writing on Borussia Dortmund. He also writes for Yellowwallpod.com. You can follow him on Twitter.
