Wolfsburg vs. Union Berlin preview: Die Wölfe out to end winless run | OneFootball

Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg are sitting just one point outside the bottom three after winning two, drawing three and losing seven of their 12 league games this season. Die Wölfe have failed to win any of their last five competitive matches since they beat Hamburger SV on October 25. They did at least end their four-match losing run with a draw in last Sunday’s away clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, although they would have been disappointed to miss out on all three points. Aaron Zehnter’s effort looked set to seal all three points until Michy Batshuayi equalised from the penalty spot in the 96th minute. 

After missing out on a win at Deutsche Bank Park, Wolfsburg will return to the Volkswagen Arena, where they are yet to win a league game this season. In fact, Wolfsburg have picked up just two points in their six Bundesliga home outings, leaving them with the joint-worst home record in the division.

However, they can take confidence from the fact that they have never lost a Bundesliga home match with Union, having won five and drawn one of their six top-flight meetings at the Volkswagen Arena. 

Team News

Wolfsburg’s lengthy absentee list features Bence Dárdai, Rogério, Jonas Wind, Kilian Fischer, Kevin Paredes, Adam Daghim, Marius Müller, Moritz Jenz and Joakim Mæhle. There is also some doubt surrounding the availability of Vini Souza. 

In positive news, interim boss Daniel Bauer should have Jesper Lindstrøm at his disposal for the fixture. 

Predicted lineup: Grabara; Kumbedi, Seelt, Koulierakis, Zehnter; Gerhardt, Gerhardt, Arnold; Majer, Eriksen, Wimmer; Amoura

Union Berlin

Union will head into the weekend in 11th position after winning four, drawing three and losing five of their 12 league games this season. Die Eisernen saw their three-game unbeaten run came to an end with last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Heidenheim. 

They then fell to another defeat in their Pokal tie against Bayern Munich in midweek. Leopold Querfeld scored twice from the penalty spot, but it was not enough, as Union slumped to a 3-2 defeat in the last 16, ending their hopes of winning the Pokal for the first time in their history.

Union will now turn their focus back to Saturday’s trip to the Volkswagen Arena, with the visitors looking to win an away game for the very first time. Die Eisernen did at least enjoy success in April’s meeting with Wolfsburg, claiming a narrow 1-0 victory at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. They can also take confidence from the fact that they have won two of their last four away games, including a 1-0 success against St. Pauli on their most recent road trip. 

Team News

Union boss Steffen Baumgart has confirmed that Andrej Ilić and Oliver Burke will be available for selection. 

However, the visitors are working without the injured trio of Andrik Markgraf, Robert Skov and Dmytro Bogdanov. Meanwhile, Rani Khedira will serve a one-match ban due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Predicted lineup: Rønnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite; Trimmel, Kemlein, Schäfer,  Köhn; Burke, Ansah, Ilić