Our next opponents: Wolfsburg turn to Danish dynamite

Position

Was it two points dropped or one point gained? Hasenhüttl wasn’t quite sure after last weekend’s 1-1 draw away at Eintracht Frankfurt. “Before the game, we definitely would’ve said we’d take a draw. But when you’re ahead after 80 minutes and then give away that lead, then things don’t feel so great,” the Wolfsburg boss said, before highlighting the positive: “Ultimately, it’s still an important point that not many teams have earned in Frankfurt.” It was once again a good away display by the Wolves. An own goal from Tuta early in the second half put them ahead before the hosts levelled in the 81st minute. It was a second straight tie for Wolfsburg, following a far more frustrating 2-2 draw against Holstein Kiel. The Wolves had come from behind through Patrick Wimmer and Jonas Wind, and looked much the better side against the promoted club but failed to take their chances, including hitting the woodwork twice before Kiel levelled.

Sitting 10th with 20 games gone, Wolfsburg are only two points shy of sixth place and UEFA Europa League qualification. The gap to the UEFA Champions League spots is also within reach. After last season’s disappointing 12th-placed finish, things are looking better this term as they target a return to Europe. Things are also looking decent on the domestic front, with the Wolves into the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal. After wins over TuS Koblenz (1-0), Borussia Dortmund (1-0) and Hoffenheim (3-0), they now visit RB Leipzig on 26 February. And they have already won there in handsome fashion this season, claiming a 5-1 victory at the Red Bull Arena back on Matchday 12.

Personnel

First-choice goalkeeper Kamil Grabara suffered a thigh injury in Frankfurt and will be out for some time. His replacement is Marius Müller, signed from Schalke in the summer. The Frankfurt game wasn’t just the 31-year-old’s first outing for the Wolves but also the first of his career in the Bundesliga. Hasenhüttl is also still without Bartosz Bialek (cruciate ligament), Lovro Majer (ankle), Kevin Paredes (metatarsal) and Rogerio (knee). Salih Özcan left the club last week as his loan from Borussia Dortmund was cut short.

Wolfsburg have strengthened in the window, though, with Mads Roerslev and Andreas Skov Olsen adding to the Danish contingent of Joakim Maehle and Wind. Skov Olsen made his debut in the draw with Kiel after the 25-year-old international arrived from Club Brugge, where he scored 49 goals and provided 30 assists in 124 appearances. The right winger has faced Bayer 04 before, setting up the only goal of the game in the 2022/23 Champions League group stage encounter. International and now club teammate Roerslev also plays on the right in defence. The 25-year-old has arrived on loan from Brentford and got his first 15 minutes in Wolfsburg colours against Frankfurt.

Denis Vavro and Konstantinos Koulierakis almost always form the heart of the Wolves’ back four, with Maehle often on the left. Captain and club legend Maximilian Arnold always plays in central midfield, while Wimmer could return after suspension further forward. Tiago Tomas (five goals), Wind (eight) and Mohammed Amoura (also eight) are other options in attack. “We’re spoilt for choice up front,” said Hasenhüttl. “We’ll see how attacking we want to be and how we want to play.”

Problems

Wolfsburg would be much better off if they hadn’t squandered so many leads this season. They even went ahead twice in the reverse fixture but ended up losing a thriller 4-3 to the Werkself thanks to Victor Boniface’s last-minute winner. The Wolves have dropped 15 points from winning positions, which is the most of any team. Second in that regard is actually Leverkusen with 13 points thrown away. Things have been a struggle at home for the most part, with only three wins from 10 league fixtures at the Volkswagen Arena (D3, L4), while the Werkself are unbeaten in their last eight visits (W6, D2).

Defending set pieces has also been an issue this season for Saturday’s hosts, conceding 14 goals as a result. Nine of those have come from corners alone. Both are the worst stats in the Bundesliga.

Performers

However, they are good at attacking set pieces and are in fact the best team in the division, with eight goals from corners contributing to a total of 16 scored from dead balls. The Wolves also have the fourth-best attack in the Bundesliga with 43 goals scored, while their conversion rate for shots is the highest of any team at 23 percent. They boast the most goalscorers with 15 different players getting on the scoresheet this term. That aforementioned trio of Tomas, Wind and Amoura have claimed almost half of their goals (21). The latter also has eight assists to his name.

Wolfsburg have been at their best away from home, earning 17 points from 10 games – the third-best return in the division behind Bayern Munich (23) and Leverkusen (19). They can be a bit rough and ready in their approach, though, with a league-high 53 yellow cards. For comparison, Bayer 04 have seen 33 cautions.