Wolfsburg are set to host Mainz 05 on Sunday at Volkswagen Arena in their 13th Bundesliga game of the season as they seek to push towards the European qualification spots.
The Wolves are ninth with 18 points and are just two points from sixth-placed Stuttgart, who occupy the division's Conference League spot, while the visitors are eighth with nine points and beat Hoffenheim 2-0 on December 1.
Match preview
The home team emerged as 5-1 victors against RB Leipzig on November 30 in the league, a match in which Wolfsburg scored three times in the first 16 minutes and led 4-0 by the time Die Roten Bullen pulled one back in the 82nd minute.
Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was delighted with the result, telling reporters: "We were hungry, extremely motivated and we wanted to be a very awkward team to play against. We did exactly that. It's no coincidence that we've picked up so many points away from home. We've got a lot of quality on the counter."
The Wolves have scored 12 goals in their last four games, including three in a victory against Hoffenheim in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 on Wednesday.
Hasenhuttl's side are in excellent form and are unbeaten in their past seven matches, while also having won their last four outings.
Wolfsburg have also been strong at home in recent weeks considering they have triumphed in three of their last four games at Volkswagen Arena, drawing the other.
Opponents Mainz 05 were dominant during their match against Hoffenheim, creating four big chances and producing nearly 2.5 xG, while limiting Hoffenheim to just one big chance.
Boss Bo Henriksen has said that he understands the threat that Wolfsburg could pose during counter-attacks, saying: "We can expect a difficult game in any case. Wolfsburg have not lost their last five Bundesliga games, especially their defence and transition play. For us, it will be important to bring our own game to the pitch."
Henriksen's side have scored 20 goals and conceded on 14 occasions in the top flight, and this make's them the division's seventh-best offensive and joint third-best defensive club.
Mainz are in strong form considering they are undefeated in their last four and have won their three most recent matches by a cumulative score of 8-1.
The visitors' record on the road is arguably more impressive than their overall form given they are unbeaten away from home this season, winning four and drawing two, and the club have in fact not been defeated in their last 10 road matches.
Team News
The hosts will be without several players, including defenders Sebastiaan Bornauw and Rogerio, as well as goalkeeper Niklas Klinger.
Wolfsburg could select a back four of Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Joakim Maehle.
Midfielder Aster Vranckx is unavailable, as are forwards Bartosz Bialek, Kevin Paredes and Lovro Majer, so perhaps Bence Dardai may partner Maximilian Arnold in the centre of the pitch.
The duo could play behind a front line consisting of Ridle Baku, Patrick Wimmer, Mohamed El Amine Amoura and Tiago Tomas.
As for the visitors, they will be unable to call upon Gabriel Vidovic until late February 2025, as well as Nelson Weiper until the middle of December.
Danny da Costa, Stefan Bell and Dominik Kohr may start as centre-backs behind a double pivot of Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri.
In attack, Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee are likely to play supporting roles alongside striker Jonathan Burkardt.
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle; Dardai, Arnold; Baku, Wimmer, Tomas; Amoura
Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Da Costa, Bell, Kohr; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt
We say: Wolfsburg 1-2 Mainz 05
Both sides are in excellent form, and it would not be surprising if each team created several opportunities in front of goal.
However, Mainz's away record is excellent, and they have considerably fewer injuries to contend with, so they should come into the clash as slight favourites.
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