Preview: Wolfsburg vs. Hoffenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

The Wolves have drawn 1-1 three times in a row since returning from the winter break, while Hoffenheim have only won one of their last 10 league games.

Match preview

After claiming decent points away to Mainz 05 and Heidenheim, Wolfsburg would have fancied their chances of dispatching relegation-threatened FC Koln at the Volkswagen Arena last weekend.

However, Niko Kovac's side fell behind to Faride Alidou's strike seven minutes before half-time, with Kevin Paredes quickly restoring parity two minutes later. Despite amassing 14 shots across the course of the encounter, the Wolves could not find a winner in the end.

Bizarrely, Wolfsburg had only drawn one of 16 games prior to the winter break, yet they have now drawn by the same scoreline three games running. While they have no realistic fears concerning relegation, winning just two of their last 13 games has clearly stunted their European qualification hopes.

That will be particularly galling after having Europa League qualification in their own hands on the final day last season, only to lose at home to Hertha Berlin and fall outside of the top seven altogether. A win on Sunday could move them into the top half of the table, though, with plenty of time remaining to turn their fortunes around.

Likewise, Hoffenheim's form has significantly dipped across the past three months, with Pellegrino Matarazzo's side collecting only seven points from their last 10 matches.

However, it should not be forgotten that the former Stuttgart manager saved Hoffenheim from relegation after taking over last February, so winning four of their opening five games this time around was always going to be difficult form to sustain.

After losing successive away games to Bayern Munich and Freiburg in their first matches back from the winter break, Die Kraichgauer did at least manage to stop the rot against Heidenheim last time out. Eren Dinkci had provided the newly promoted side with a lead before the half-an-hour mark, but Andrej Kramaric converted a penalty in the seventh minute of first-half injury time.

In a crazily open game, Matarazzo will be ruing that his side could not turn seven shots on target into more than one goal, with Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Muller putting in an exceptional performance. If Hoffenheim can perform to those levels in Lower Saxony on Sunday, there is every chance they could claim an away victory.

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

L

W

L

D

D

D

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

W

L

D

L

L

D

Team News

Wolfsburg will remain without Lukas Nmecha and Kevin Wimmer due to knee and ankle injuries respectively, while Tiago Tomas is expected to miss out once again due to an elbow issue. Maximilian Arnold and Yannick Gerhardt missed the draw against Koln due to illness and may not be risked.

As such, Kovac could name an unchanged starting XI, with Vaclav Cerny and Jonas Wind both hoping to return to goalscoring ways after blanking last weekend.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, will travel without Mergim Berisha and Marco John due to knee injuries, while Dennis Geiger is sidelined by a groin issue. Diadie Samassekou is still away with Mali on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Florian Grillitsch will serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth caution of the season against Heidenheim, meaning Matarazzo could revert to a back three, and accommodate former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak in the process.

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Casteels; Mæhle, Lacroix, Jenz, Rogerio; Svanberg, Vranckx; Cerny, Majer, Paredes; Wind

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Kabak, Brooks, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Promel, Stach, Nsoki; Kramaric; Weghorst, Beier

We say: Wolfsburg 1-1 Hoffenheim

With both teams drawing 1-1 last weekend, it may seem lazy to predict this result once again, but there is very little to split these two sides.

Only Bayern Munich have stopped Hoffenheim from scoring in a match this season, while Wolfsburg have only failed to score three times, so we expect to see goals at both ends.

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