Wolfsburg vs. Hertha Berlin: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Nmecha has been missing with an ankle injury since scoring his sixth goal of the season in the 3-2 defeat to Cologne on Matchday 16 and the 23-year-old is sorely missed in the Wolves attack. Having occupied top spot for three weeks after their win over Hertha on Matchday, Wolfsburg have since won just twice in the league and slumped to 14th in the table. Only three points separate them from second-bottom Arminia Bielefeld and they could end the weekend in the relegation zone if they pick up a seventh Bundesliga defeat in a row and results go against them elsewhere. That will be a major concern for coach Florian Kohfeldt, who will be hoping Wout Weghorst can fire his side out of trouble in the absence of his strike partner. Kohfeldt named seven subs out of a possible seven last time out as they lost 1-0 to Bochum and he has said he expects Dodi Lukebakio and Aster Vranckx to be fit in time to bolster his ranks.

Having ended 2021 with just one defeat in five - a run that included two victories and a superb win over Borussia Dortmund in their final outing of the year - Hertha got back underway with a 3-1 defeat to high-flying Cologne on Matchday 18. That loss was Tayfun Korkut's first home defeat since taking charge in December and it leaves his side 13th in the table - one point and one place above their hosts. Kevin-Prince Boateng and Suat Serdar both collected their fifth yellow cards of the season in the game against Cologne and miss out through suspension. Joint top-scorer Stevan Jovetic is nearing a return from injury but the game comes too soon for the Montenegrin. Ishak Belfodil, however, is in line to make a comeback after sitting out last weekend and is set to partner one of Myziane Maolida and Davie Selke up front.

Match stats

Nmecha's six goals in as many Bundesliga games have contributed to 13 points (W4, D1, L1).

Weghorst also has six. The Dutchman has struck twice in seven career meetings with Hertha.

Wolfsburg are experiencing their longest winless run since the 1976/77 Bundesliga 2 Nord campaign, when they went 14 without victory whilst losing 11 in a row.

With five apiece, Jovetic and Marco Richter have accounted for almost half of Hertha's 21 goals this term.

Hertha are winless in three and have won just two of their last 10 Bundesliga meetings with Wolfsburg (W2, D4, L4).

Peter Pekarik won the 2008/09 Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, before moving to Hertha, via Kayseispor, in summer 2012. The 35-year-old has made 203 competitive appearances for his current employers.

Probable line-ups

Wolfsburg: Casteels - Lacroix, Brooks, Bornauw - Baku, Guilavogui, Arnold (c), Roussillon - Philipp, Weghorst, Waldschmidt

Out: Mehmedi (muscular), L. Nmecha (ankle), Schlager (knee), Stefaniak (groin), Otavio (knee), William (knee)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Stark (c), Torunarigha, Plattenhardt - Richter, Darida, Ascacibar, Mittelstädt - Belfodil, Maolida

Out: Boateng (suspended), Christensen (not included), Jarstein (knee), Jovetic (calf), Serdar (suspended)

Doubtful: Bjorkan (match fitness), Boyata (match fitness), Zeefuik (match fitness)

Coach: Tayfun Korkut