WOLFSBURG VS BAYERN MUNICH
German champions Bayern Munich were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League by French champions Paris Saint-Germain in mid-week on away goals.
The Bavarians dearly missed Polish forward Lewandowski across the two legs of the quarterfinal tie against Les Parisiens, and had to make do with former Paris Saint-Germain player Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting up front. In the league too, Die Roten drew away to Union Berlin in the German capital last week.
On the other hand, Wolfburg is in third place in the German top-flight and is in a battle with Eintracht Frankfurt as both clubs bid to secure Champions League football next season.
The Wolves had lost their last match to the club from Frankfurt and will aim for a win against the German champions to increase the gap between themselves and the Eagles in third place.
TEAM NEWS
VfL Wolfsburg will miss Renato Steffen owing to an injury – that can be potentially decisive for the hosts in this match, although Maxi Philipp can deputise for Steffen given the German’s ability to play as a second striker behind Wout Weghorst.
Meanwhile Josip Brekalo and Ridle Baku can play in the wide-attacking roles for Die Wölfe.
Hey @PSG_English, DMs are open if you wanna share tactics 😅 pic.twitter.com/OOFjD2qR3Y
— VfL Wolfsburg EN/US 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) April 13, 2021
Possible Wolfburg starting line-up: Casteels; Mbabu, Lacroix, Brooks, Roussillon; Schlager, Gerhardt; Baku, Philipp, Brekalo; Weghorst
Moving on to Bayern Munich, Hansi Flick will be without the services of pivotal players like Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso, Serge Gnabry, Niklas Sule and Polish goal machine Robert Lewandowski, although the former Dortmund forward has recently resumed ball training.
🗣️ #Flick on Wolfsburg: "They have a great coach and as a team, they are deservedly near the top. They always put their opponents under pressure, are strong on set pieces & play a lot of crosses. They are deservedly there, and could be playing in the UCL next season." #WOBFCB pic.twitter.com/Fw2gYBd0im
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 16, 2021
Possible Bayern Munich starting line-up: Neuer; Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Martinez, Kimmich; Musiala, Muller, Coman; Choupo-Moting
GAME CHANGERS
For the Wolves, look no further than Wout Weghorst. The Dutch professional has shone for the Wolves this season, becoming their top goalscorer this season with twenty three goals in all competitions, and the onus for scoring goals will once agin be on the 28-year old when Wolfsburg host the reigning champions at the Volkswagen Arena.
For the Bavarians, midfielder Joshua Kimmich will be extremely instrumental in the match against Wolfsburg. It is the German’s ability to deliver long, diagonal balls in the opposition half that colud prove to be the difference in the tie.
With Muller ooperating in a more attacking role since Lewnadowski’s injury, Kimmich can take up the mantle of the Raumdeuter, albeit in a partial manner.
PREDICTION
Bayern Munich will look to get back to winning ways after being dethroned as European champions in the middle of the week at the hands of last season’s runners-up Paris Saint-Germain and they will leave no stone unturned in tasting success at the Volswagen Arena.
Wolfsburg have one of the best defences in the German top-flight, but Oliver Glasner’s side will not be able to match the quality and depth of the German champions.
Die Roten have won the previous 17 of their last 19 games with Wolfsburg, which includes six victories in a row in their last six games. Therefore, FootTheBall’s prediction for this match is: Bayern Munich 2 – 1 VfL Wolfsburg