Wolfsburg host VfL Bochum at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday in the opening weekend of the Bundesliga.

The two sides meet after successful seasons last year, albeit in different divisions.

Match preview

Wolfsburg begin the new campaign in high spirits after finishing in fourth place last year, and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

However, there will be a new manager in charge to the one who led them there after Oliver Glasner left at the end of the season to become the man in charge at Eintracht Frankfurt, as part of the managerial merry-go-round in Germany. Strains in the relationships between him and those at the top were believed to be one of the reasons for his departure.

Glasner's replacement is Dutch legend and former PSV Eindhoven manager Mark van Bommel, and with this being his first job since leaving PSV in December 2019, he will be eager to prove he has the attributes required to be a top manager after a successful playing career.

Early signs have not been too promising at Wolfsburg so far, though - preparations in pre-season have seen Wolfsburg win their opener, only to taste defeat in all of the five matches that followed.

Although friendlies are not always the greatest indicator of a team's actual chances in the season ahead, an uninspiring win over fourth-tier side Preussen Munster in the DFB-Pokal was next.

A 3-1 win was only managed after extra time in the first-round tie, despite a strong lineup being fielded, and that win has even been overshadowed by the submission of an appeal by Munster, who claim Wolfsburg benefited through the use of an "illegal" sixth substitute, placing their spot in the competition in danger.

It is not all doom and gloom on the eve of the new Bundesliga season for Wolfsburg, however; there is plenty to be excited about with a Champions League campaign to look forward to and a host of new signings brought in, which leaves the side with the second highest net spend so far this summer.

Meanwhile, Bochum have returned to the Bundesliga for the first time since the 2009-10 season, after winning the 2.Bundesliga title last year. Finishes around mid-table for the previous few years meant it was an outstanding achievement to say the least.

However, Thomas Reis's side will not be here just to make the numbers up, and an impressive pre-season schedule saw them win four of their seven matches, including a 3-1 win away at Borussia Dortmund.

Following that run, Bochum battled to a 2-1 win away to fourth-tier side Wuppertaler in the first round of the DFB-Pokal at the weekend, although they too needed extra time to squeeze through.

Matches such as this one will not be one of those that is expected to define their quest to survive relegation on their return, particularly when you consider that the side have relied only on bringing in new players on free transfers and loan deals so far.

In addition to this, one of the stars of last season, Robert Zulj, has left to join Al Ittihad - his 15 goals and 15 assists in the 2.Bundesliga last year will surely be missed dearly.

Team News

Wolfsburg come into their opener with a near-full strength side. Fringe players Bartosz Bialek, Paulo Otavio and William are ruled out, as is new signing Aster Vranckx, who arrived from Belgian side KV Mechelen for a fairly sizeable fee.

Victor Sa (flu) is also labelled as a doubt for the match.

This means that new signings Felix Nmecha and Lukas Nmecha - brothers acquired from Manchester City - as well as new central defender Sebastiaan Bornauw, are in line to make their full debuts.

Last season's top goalscorer Wout Weghorst with 20 Bundesliga goals will lead the line.

Bochum's return to the Bundesliga certainly does not get any easier when they are expected to be missing at least eight players for the opener.

Herbert Bockhorn, Danny Blum, Saulo Decarli, Luis Hartwig, Gerrit Holtmann, Eduard Lowen, Soma Novothny and Kostas Stafylidis are all expected to miss out for the away side.

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Baku, Lacroix, Brooks, Roussillon; Schlager, Arnold; Steffen, Philipp, L Nmecha; Weghorst

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Riemann; Gamboa, Bella-Kotchap, Leitsch, Soares; Losilla, Tesche; Asano, Rexhbecaj, Antwi-Adjei; Zoller

We say: Wolfsburg 3-1 VfL Bochum

Wolfsburg should be expected to win their opener comfortably against a newly-promoted side. Bochum may cause them some problems, particularly if Wolfsburg make a shaky start, but the hosts should have far too much quality for their opponents. Mark van Bommel will be expected to begin his tenure with a win.

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