Our next opponents: VfL Wolfsburg

Position

Draws have dominated in the motor city recently. Since Martin Schmidt took over the helm at VfL following a 1-0 defeat at Stuttgart on matchday four, there have been no winners in the games involving Wolfsburg. The assessments of the draws vary widely: The 2-2 draw away to record champions by Munich, after being two goals down, felt like a win but the home games against Werder Bremen and Schmidt's former club Mainz 05 (both 1-1) represent less impressive performances by the Wolves. A total of four draws in seven games is the highest number in the league – along with SC Freiburg – and Wolfsburg have only one win so far this term (1-0 in Frankfurt at the end of August). VfL are currently in twelfth place on seven points – one place and point behind the Werkself but level on points with the play-off spot, which was where the team from Lower Saxony finished last season. They are hoping to avoid a similar fate this time round.

Personnel

Hopes in Wolfsburg still rest on the new appointment to the coaching staff: During the international break, Martin Schmidt had time to work with the squad, which wasn't a possibility when he took over as manager  with three games in twelve days. His predecessor Andries Jonker failed to be successful in his time as head coach with his highly talented squad ending the season in the play-off spot. The Jonker era was over just four games into the new campaign– and the Wolves are hoping that Schmidt succeeds in bringing out the potential of his players. VfL have outstanding players up front, two inventive creative players in Yunus Malli and Daniel Didavi plus one of the most dangerous strikers in the Bundesliga in the experienced Mario Gomez.

Problems

The main problem at VfL appears to be perennial: The team rarely reveal their evident quality on the pitch. The clearest example: The attack, full of big names, has only managed to score six goals in the current campaign – too few to meet the high demands of the club. In addition, there are numerous injury worries afflicting Schmidt's squad: Jeffrey Bruma and John Anthony Brooks, originally planned to be the regular pairing in central defence, have not played a single Bundesliga match in the current season due to injury and are likely to be out of action for a long time as is right-back Sebastian Jung who suffered a torn knee ligament in training at the weekend. Role model Maximilian Arnold and striker Gomez are two other key players in the team who have been ruled out injured – a return against the Werkself is possible. Winger Paul-Georges Ntep misses the game at the BayArena due to suspension.

Potential

Even if the glory days of the Bundesliga title win in 2009 and the DFB Cup triumph of 2015, with players like Edin Dzecko and Kevin de Bruyne developing into international top stars at Wolfsburg, appear to be over, VfL still have the structural and financial conditions to hold their own in the top third of the Bundesliga. The sale of Germany international Julian Draxler, former Leverkusen player André Schürrle and, above all, de Bruyne have filled the coffers of the Lower Saxony club in the past two seasons. The Wolves are now looking to rediscover success on the pitch as soon as possible.

Prediction

New coach Schmidt faces a difficult challenge to get his team back on course after a long period where performances and results have not lived up to expectations. Previous displays this season inspire little hope of a finish that corresponds to the club's budget. Nevertheless, the team and club management should have learned the lessons of last term to ensure they can avoid  another battle against relegation right up to the end of the season.