A highly-anticipated clash awaits as Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig face off in a second-round showdown of the DFB-Pokal at the Volkswagen Arena.
Match Preview
Wolfsburg, eager to break their recent hoodoo in the competition against Leipzig, will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing Bundesliga loss.
RB Leipzig, the reigning champions, are in fine form after a dominant victory in their previous match.
Wolfsburg’s attacking prowess has been evident with Danish striker Jonas Wind impressing in the final third.
However, their defensive vulnerabilities have cost them in recent games.
Despite taking an early lead against Augsburg, Wolfsburg conceded three goals and failed to mount a comeback.
This defeat adds to their poor run of form, with losses to Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen.
Currently sitting ninth in the rankings, Wolfsburg will be determined to turn their fortunes around.
RB Leipzig, on the other hand, showcased their strength with a commanding 6-0 win over Koln. The likes of Timo Werner, David Raum, and Christoph Baumgartner continue to find the back of the net, while emerging talents such as Lois Openda and Xavi Simons have been instrumental in their success. Having secured successive victories across all competitions, RB Leipzig aims for a third consecutive DFB-Pokal triumph this season.
This encounter holds significance for both teams. Wolfsburg will be hoping to overcome their recent struggles and make a statement against the champions.
However, RB Leipzig has been a formidable opponent in previous DFB-Pokal meetings, eliminating Wolfsburg in three consecutive seasons and winning their last three Bundesliga encounters convincingly.
Wolfsburg’s recent DFB-Pokal campaign started with a crushing 6-0 victory over TuS Makkabi Berlin.
However, they have only managed one crown in their history, defeating Borussia Dortmund in the 2015 final.
In contrast, RB Leipzig’s journey to their first DFB-Pokal success this season was less emphatic but showed resilience in a 3-2 win over Wehen Wiesbaden.
Their strong away form and previous successes against Wolfsburg provide them with confidence heading into this fixture.
Team News:
Wolfsburg enters the match with several players unavailable due to injuries. Patrick Wimmer suffered a knock in the previous Bundesliga game and may not feature.
Koen Casteels, Rogerio, Kilian Fischer, Lukas Nmecha, and Felix Lange remain out of contention.
However, there is optimism that Rogerio might return next weekend. Tiago Tomas and Vaclav Cerny might get opportunities to impress in the attacking lineup.
Leipzig also faces some injury concerns, with Dani Olmo likely to miss the match due to a suspected shoulder fracture.
Timo Werner’s substitution in the last game was precautionary, and he is expected to be fit.
Kevin Kampl should return to the squad after missing the previous match, while other players like Baumgartner, Forsberg, and Carvalho could compete for a starting spot if Xavi Simons is rested.
Defensive duo Willi Orban and El Chadaille Bitshiabu are still recovering from knee injuries.
Predicted Lineups:
Wolfsburg:
- Pervan;
- Baku, Lacroix, Bornauw, Cozza;
- Arnold, Gerhardt;
- Cerny, Majer, Thomas;
- Wind
RB Leipzig:
- Gulacsi;
- Klostermann, Lukeba, Simakan;
- Henrichs, Schlager, Siewald, Lenz;
- Forsberg;
- Sesko, Openda
Prediction:
Considering RB Leipzig’s recent goal-scoring prowess and Wolfsburg’s defensive struggles, we anticipate a 3-1 victory for RB Leipzig.
Wolfsburg might find some attacking success against their injury-hit opponents but are unlikely to keep their defense secure.
