Wolfsburg begin 2. Bundesliga campaign against Kaiserslautern | OneFootball

Wolfsburg host Kaiserslautern as they begin life in the 2. Bundesliga following their first-ever relegation, with the hosts widely seen as overwhelming favourites despite a remodelled squad.

According to BuLi News, Torsten Lieberknecht’s side finished last season sixth, 10 points behind promoted Elversberg and Paderborn, and have leaned on free transfers and loans.

The clubs last met in 2011/12, when Sotirios Kyrgiakos was sent off on the stroke of half-time yet Wolfsburg still won the home game through Ashkan Dejagah, before a goalless reverse.

RB Leipzig-linked Mohamed Amoura, still expected to leave this summer, misses out with a thigh injury. Christian Eriksen has yet to decide on his future, and Maximilian Arnold is sidelined with a groin issue. Summer arrivals Hauke Wahl, Mathys Angely, Elvis Rexhbecaj, Muhammed Damar, Fabian Reese, Fraser Hornby and Robert Glatzel are all expected to start.

Jannik Mause, elbow, and Ivan Prtajin, ACL, are unavailable, while Paul Joly serves a suspension for a non-sporting incident during his time at Auxerre. Simon Asta is expected to step in at right wingback. Mergim Berisha, the former Germany international, could lead the line, with Marlon Ritter and Naatan Skyttä aiming to build on strong 2025/26 campaigns.

Predicted XIs: Wolfsburg, Zielinski, Fischer, Wahl, Angely, Kumbedi, Vini Souza (c), Damar, Rexhbecaj, Hornby, Reese, Glatzel. Kaiserslautern, Krahl, Elvedi, Gyamfi, Rasmussen, Asta, Kunze, Sahin, Haas, Skyttä, Ritter (c), Berisha.

Source: BuLi News

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”