Our next opponents: Glasner's clear approach

Position

Just VfL Wolfsburg and Juventus: The team from Lower Saxony was in very good company until a short time ago. Up until last week, the next group opponents for the Werkself and the Wolves were the only teams to be unbeaten in all competitive matches. That run came to an end with a clear 6-1 defeat in the DFB Cup against RB Leipzig and that was followed on Saturday by the first defeat in the Bundesliga with a 3-0 reverse against Borussia Dortmund on matchday 11. What does remain are clean sheets in front of their own fans: If Bayer 04 are to win at the Volkswagen Arena on Sunday then it will be the first home defeat in the Bundesliga for VfL this term. And not just that: The Werkself could overtake the Wolves as they are currently two points and two places ahead of Leverkusen. In yesterday's Europa League game, the Wolves lost 3-1 to the Belgian side KAA Gent after being 1-0 up at half-time.

Personnel

Compared with the signing of coaches such as Julian Nagelsmann and Marco Rose in the summer, Oliver Glasner almost went under the radar. That is indicative of the Austrian as he always appears calm, which has not only made him popular with VfL supporters. The 45-year-old coach firmly believes in a 3-4-3 system as he looks to make it tight in the middle and force attacks down the wings. Wout Weghorst is usually the target for crosses. The Dutchman has scored eight goals in 15 games and last season he netted 17 in the Bundesliga. The tall central striker is the model of a dangerous centre forward with impressive ability in the air and an oft quoted eye for goal. The showpiece in the new Glasner team was – until last week – the defence. Even after losing 3-0 at Dortmund, VfL still have the best defence in the Bundesliga with only eight goals conceded. And that in spite of the regular keeper Koen Casteels being sidelined since September. The team have been excellent at the back with central defender Marcel Tisserand shining under Glasner.

Problems

Casteels is not the only regular first choice unavailable to the Wolves as the VfL injury list is long. The long-term absence of Xaver Schlager, a marquee signing from Salzburg in the summer and the player Glasner wanted, is a serious blow. The midfielder looked impressive straightaway but broke his ankle on matchday three. There have been hopeful signs recently: Thanks to the treatment from a specialist it is possible Schlager could play in the second half of the season but he will definitely be unavailable against the Werkself. The same applies to the striker Daniel Ginczek and the former Leverkusen player Admir Mehmedi who misses the match against his old team-mates due to a muscle injury. The Switzerland international made 86 appearances for the Werkself and scored 13 goals between 2015 and 2018.

Potential

In Glasner, Wolfsburg have a real expert at the helm. And sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has been involved in some smart transfers over the past two years including Jerome Roussillon, Weghorst and Schlager. That has seen a VfL revival that has turned the team twice involved in relegation play-offs to ambitious Europa League participants. The club structure is sound, the finances are there and the sporting management are following a clear approach. The course is set to establish the champions of Germany in 2009 in the top third of the Bundesliga over the long term.

Prediction

Being in the top six again appears possible this season as VfL have the necessary quality that can only increase with the return of Schlager and Casteels. The Wolves are now in a crucial phase of the season: How will the team deal with the first and convincing defeats of the season? And how will they handle the rest of the fixtures up to Christmas that, in addition to Bayer 04, include Borussia Mönchengladbach, Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich? The game against the Werkself could be show the potential way forward for the team from Lower Saxony.