Preview: Greuther Furth vs. Wolfsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

The newly promoted hosts have only managed one point from their opening three league matches, whilst the visitors have won all three under their new manager.

Match preview

Although Greuther were expected to struggle on their return to the top flight of Germany, they will still remain disappointed at their poor start to the new campaign.

After only participating in the Bundesliga on one occasion before - a last-place finish back in 2013 - there appear to be very few positives to suggest their fate will be any different this time around.

Even including five friendlies before the competitive action started, Greuther have failed to win a match at all since winning promotion on the final day of the 2.Bundesliga season back in May.

A humiliating loss on penalties in the first round of the DFB-Pokal to amateur side SV Babelsberg preceded the two defeats and single draw that followed in the opening three Bundesliga games of this campaign.

To continue with the negatives, of which there are plenty, even the solitary point picked up so far was a disappointment.

This is because it arrived in a 1-1 draw at home to Arminia Bielefeld, a side tipped to struggle along with Greuther, and who were reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes of the match.

Meanwhile, the mood around the Wolfsburg camp is a lot brighter with the Wolves topping the table after winning their opening three league matches.

In addition, this game arrives just a few days ahead of their first match back in the Champions League since the 2015-16 season, after finishing fourth last campaign.

Manager Mark van Bommel arrived in the summer but despite the league position early on, he will not be entirely satisfied with how things have started at his new side.

The first reason for this is Wolfsburg's expulsion from the DFB-Pokal, after using an illegal sixth substitution during a 3-1 extra-time win over fourth-tier side Preussen Munster.

On top of that humiliation, the manager will not be overly pleased with his team's performances in the three league victories.

Two of the wins have arrived against sides tipped to struggle towards the bottom of the table - 1-0 over 10-man VfL Bochum and 2-1 over Hertha Berlin - whilst the 1-0 win over potential title challengers RB Leipzig last time out was arguably a fortunate one, on the basis of play during that match.

Greuther Furth Bundesliga form:

Greuther Furth form (all competitions):

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

Wolfsburg form (all competitions):

Team News

Hosts Greuther Furth have at least tried to solve their early season problems by being active in the closing stages of the transfer window.

Jetro Willems, Cedric Itten, Sebastian Griesbeck and Nick Viergever all signed for the Cloverleaves late in the window, and manager Stefan Leitl could be set to hand three of them their debuts on Saturday.

However, Gideon Jung and Jessic Ngankam have been ruled out with knee injuries, whilst Robin Kehr remains a doubt due to a groin problem.

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg will be missing regular midfielder Xaver Schlager for the trip to Greuther, and the next few months, after suffering a tear to his cruciate ligament in the win over Leipzig.

Joshua Guilavogui should come into central midfield in Schlager's place.

The Wolves have some new signings of their own that could potentially make debuts as well - Aster Vranckx has not yet featured due to injury, whilst late arrivals Dodi Lukebakio and Luca Waldschmidt will also be pushing to make their first squad.

Youngster Bartosz Bialek, Paulo Otavio and William are all missing through knee injuries, in addition to Schlager.

Greuther Furth possible starting lineup:

Burchert; Meyerhofer, Bauer, Hoogma, Willems; Seguin, Griesbeck, Green; Nielsen; Itten, Hrgota

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Casteels; Mbabu, Lacroix, Brooks, Roussillon; Guilavogui, Arnold; Baku, Philipp, Steffen; Weghorst

We say: Greuther Furth 0-2 Wolfsburg

Although Wolfsburg have not particularly impressed performance-wise despite the results, they should have more than enough quality to see off a poor Greuther Furth side. The visitors are yet to hit top form so it may remain a narrow victory only.