Bundesliga Preview: WfL Wolfsburg test Bayer Leverkusen

Expect no trouble this weekend as the Bundesliga returns; - what else would you think about on a weekend like this without German’s biggest ‘set-back’, Monday football?

Therefore, expect no Tennis balls, neither should you think about any reason for the fans to stay away from Stadia.

A number of interesting fixtures are lined up to light this weekend’s Bundesliga, including RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04 v Hertha Berlin and Augsburg v Hoffenheim.

The top six seems to have started taking shape now that the league is in its defining moments. Koln’s chances of escaping the bottom look more real than ever before, following their recent improvement.

Going against an average Vfb Stuttgart on Sunday will open up Koln’s space for recovery especially now that the other two struggling sides will have to face off in an all cross-out fixture.

Do not miss Vfl Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen on Sanyuka TV and Star Times

 

VfL Wolfsburg V Bayer Leverkusen – Preview

Wolfsburg’s new tactician, Bruno Labbadia takes charge of his second game as his side host Bayer Leverkusen at the Volkswagen Arena this weekend.

All hopes point at making a substantial push away from the drop where Martin Schmidt had led them before stepping down. Labbadia becomes the club’s third manager of the campaign, and with just nine games left to play, the Lower Saxony side should be aware that any negative result would lead them into the same place they are trying to avoid.

The drop is the enemy to these two sides. Last week, Bayer Leverkusen dropped out of the top four another time, despite being just one point behind Frankfurt who sum up the top four.

Bruno Labbadia guided Wolfsburg to a 1-1 draw at Mainz 05 during the weekend and now leads the team in search for a first win in six Bundesliga matches. Meanwhile, Leverkusen lost 2-0 to Schalke at home in the latest league encounter, their second defeat in the last three games – both defeats coming at the BayArena.

The reverse fixture in October had the two sides share spoils in a 2-2 draw at the BayArena, but, Bayer’s last trip to the Volkswagen Arena had them pick up a 2-1 win.

While Leverkusen remain unbeaten on the road in nine straight games, having won five of these, Wolfsburg remain a hard side to run-over having lost less games than some two better sides, RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Not a bad feat, but failing to turn any of the thirteen games, (more draws than any other side) could partly explain why they are still lingering around the relegation zone.

Expect this to be an intense game, with Wolfsburg possibly being able to get a result not less than a point.

Wolfsburg are the most affected by injuries, having to live without defender John Brooks who is out with a knee injury, Jakub Blaszczykowski (injury), Ignacio Camacho (ankle), Yannick Gerhardt (ankle), Jung (thigh), Tisserand (hamstring).

Lars Bender remains out for the visitors with a hamstring while Dominik Kohr and Panagiotis Retsos are both serving one-match bans

Match Facts.

• Only Cologne, Hamburg, Werder Bremen, Stuttgart and Freiburg have scored fewer Bundesliga goals than Wolfsburg this term (27).
• Labbadia's predecessors Andries Jonker and Martin Schmidt both drew their first games in charge of the Wolves 1-1. Jonker won his second; Schmidt drew his.
• Labbadia coached Leverkusen in 2008/09, overseeing a ninth-placed Bundesliga finish and taking the club to the DFB Cup final.
• Admir Mehmedi produced seven goals and 11 assists in 62 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen, before joining Wolfsburg during the winter break.
• Only Bayern Munich (55) and Borussia Dortmund (49) have scored more Bundesliga goals than Leverkusen (43) so far this season.
• Veteran striker Stefan Kießling was included in the Leverkusen squad for the first time since Matchday 13, last weekend.

Probable line-ups

Wolfsburg: 4-2-3-1

Koen Casteels; Paul Verhaegh (c)-Robin Knoche-Bruma-William; Josuha Guilavogui-Maximilian Arnold; Josip Brekalo-Yunus Malli-Didavi; Divok Origi

Coach: Bruno Labbadia

Leverkusen:

Bernd Leno (c); Tin Jedvai-S. Bender-Jonathan Tah; Kai Havertz-Julian Baumgartlinger-Charles Aranguiz-Wendell Borges; Julian Brandt-Kevin Volland-Leon Bailey

Coach: Heiko Herrlich

Here’s the Bundesliga’s full fixture list

Friday

Borussia M'gladbach v SV Werder Bremen – 10:45PM

FC Schalke 04 v Hertha BSC – 5:30PM

FC Augsburg v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – 5:30PM

Hamburger SV v 1. FSV Mainz 05 – 5:30PM

VfL Wolfsburg v Bayer 04 Leverkusen – 5:30PM

Eintracht Frankfurt v Hannover 96 – 5:30PM

RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund – 8:30PM

Sunday

1. FC Köln v VfB Stuttgart – 5:30PM

Sport-Club Freiburg v Bayern Munich – 8:00PM