Borussia Dortmund vs. VfL Wolfsburg preview: Die Wolfe keen to snap winless streak in Dortmund | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund

After a thrilling battle in Turin which saw them emerge with a point, Borussia Dortmund make the quick turnaround to face VfL Wolfsburg on Matchday 4 of the Bundesliga. In what is only their second competitive fixture at the Westfalenstadion this season, it goes without saying that BVB will be keen to deliver another victory on home soil.

A rather unfortunate kick-off time of 7.30pm (CET) on Sunday hopefully won’t dampen the occasion too much. The one other slight cause for concern for the Westphalians is their defensive frailties – Anselmino was absent from their Champions League opener on Tuesday, while Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini remain as the two natural bastions of centre-half experience.

On the bright side of things, BVB have encountered no problems in hitting the back of the net. Their total of eight Bundesliga goals in three outings, coupled with their four strikes against Juventus, highlight their razor-sharp attack. Wolfsburg – who shipped three to FC Koln last weekend – ought to be vulnerable if Kovac’s side click.

Team News:

3-4-3: Kobel – Ryerson, Anton, Bensebaini – Couto, Sabitzer, Jobe, Svensson – Adeyemi, Guirassy, Beier.

Dortmund’s absentee list remains extensive. There’s hope that Anselmino (fitness) may feature on Sunday, but Nico Schlotterbeck (fitness), Niklas Sule (muscle injury), Emre Can (adductor), Julien Duranville (shoulder) and Fabio Silva (adductor) are out of action. It goes without saying that Gregor Kobel will remain between the sticks in goal.

Julian Ryerson is expected to play as an auxiliary centre-half alongside Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini. The in-form Yan Couto and Daniel Svensson ought to start on the flanks either side of Marcel Sabitzer and Jobe Bellingham in midfield. Up top, Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier provide support to Serhou Guirassy, with all three effective against Heidenheim last weekend.

VfL Wolfsburg

The club from the Autostadt travel to the Westphalian giants after celebrating their 80th Anniversary last weekend. However, the champagne was put on ice as 1.FC Koln struck late to salvage a 3-3 stalemate on Matchday 3. Still undefeated, Wolfsburg will be eager to upset the apple cart and hand BVB their first loss of the campaign.

Paul Simonis and his squad ought to face their first real test of the season at the Westfalenstadion on Sunday. One would have to go back to January 2018 for the last time Wolfsburg took a point home from Dortmund. Meanwhile, their last victory at the 81,365-seater stadium came in the form of a 3-2 win in December 2012.

That’s not to say this game is a foregone conclusion. If Die Wolfe can draw on the memories of their DfB Pokal win over BVB last campaign, anything is possible. With Maxi Arnold, Lovro Majer and Andreas Skov Olsen in good form and Mohammed Amoura finding the net last time out, the hosts must be wary of their threats.

Team News:

4-3-3: Grabara – Fischer, Jenz, Koulierakis, Maehle – Arnold, Majer, Vini Souza – Skov Olsen, Amoura, Wimmer

On the personnel front, Simonis has a relatively clean bill of healthy players to choose from. Aside from Kevin Paredes (foot), Rogerio (muscular problems) and Denis Vavro (adductor) who are all set to be sidelined until December, Wolfsburg should line out similar to last weekend with Kamil Grabara in goals.

A flat back-four comprised of Kilian Fischer, Moritz Jenz, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Joakhim Maehle, will slot in behind a double-six pivot including captain Maxi Arnold and Vini Souza. Lovro Majer is expected to play slightly ahead of his middle-third counterpats, while Andreas Skov Olsen and Patrick Wimmer bring threat to the wings with Mohammed Amoura up top.