Wolfsburg to make home advantage count
TEAM NEWS
Wolfsburg will not have available for the first leg against Holstein Kiel Victor Osimhen, Riechedly Bazoer, Marcel Tisserand, Admir Mehmedi and Paul Jaeckel who are all injured. However, Bruno Labbadia can count on the same eleven who won the important last home game against Cologne.
Holstein Kiel will have to do without the long-term absentee Dominik Schmidt as well as the freshly injured Dominick Drexler, Christopher Lenz and Patrick Herrmann who are all not available for the first leg against Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Victor Osimhen (shoulder), Riechedly Bazoer (meniscus), Marcel Tisserand (thigh), Admir Mehmedi (foot), Paul Jaeckel (knee)
Holstein Kiel
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Dominik Schmidt (calf), Patrick Herrmann (ankle), Dominick Drexler (ankle), Christopher Lenz (illness)
MATCH PREVIEW
MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN
Wolfsburg head into the play-off in average shape, winning only one of their last five. After an excellent victory over Cologne 4-1 on final day they avoid relegation and book their place in play-off – Wolfsburg ended their regular season on 16th place – winning only six, drawing 15 and losing 13 of their 34 matches in 1.Bundesliga. Since taking over at Volkswagen Arena, Bruno Labbadia has won two, drawn three and lost six of his eleven matches as head coach on the sideline.
Holstein Kiel ultimately ran out of steam in the hunt for second spot, but Markus Anfang’s men will no doubt be a formidable force in these two play-off matches. After an incredible season, Holstein Kiel have lost a bit of form since the turn of the year, but overall winning an impressive 14 of their 34 2.Bundesliga encounters to finish in third spot as newly promoted team. However, form is back and they claimed an impressive 6-2 victory at home against relegated Braunschweig on final day.
Although Holstein Kiel’s heavy form and excellent goal count of 71 in 34 2.Bundesliga matches this will be a different game. Wolfsburg should have the class to stop that strong offensive and should seal a narrow win. I fancy Wolfsburg to win this first leg on home turf.
SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST HALF HAD – DRAW
Wolfsburg have been drawing at half time in three of their last four 1.Bundesliga home matches. In fact, that this would be a very close game and no team will invest to much to begin I fancy a goalless draw at the break at Volkswagen Arena on Thursday.
HEAD TO HEAD
These two have only met twice in Regional League, with Wolfsburg winning one and losing one on home soil but both matches took place many years ago. Therefore the pair met each other for the first time under professional conditions.
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