Who will take the big points in the basement duel?

Bundesliga Round Eight – after the international break, Europe’s top leagues resume this weekend. After seven matchdays, VfB Stuttgart are still winless, something the Swabians have never done in 56 Bundesliga seasons. The fact that they are still in touch with the lower mid-table in terms of points is thanks to the many points divisions this season, as the Swabians have only lost two games so far this season. They are even still unbeaten away from home.

The Wolves had also imagined the new start under Niko Kovac to be completely different. But despite the new coach, there are the old problems. Although the Wolves, in contrast to their upcoming opponents, have already celebrated their first win of the season, they also only have five points to their name. So neither of the two teams has anything to give away in this basement duel.

The best bookmakers see the home team as the favourites for Wolfsburg against VfB Stuttgart in their odds. Although the Swabians won in Wolfsburg last season, they did not win much in the VW metropolis in the years before. But in terms of performance, you don’t necessarily have to sign the role of favourites at the moment, as the Wolves are still without a home win this season. The best analyses, odds and predictions for the upcoming match can be found in the article

Wolfsburg – Statistics & current form

The new start under Niko Kovac has not gone as desired for the Wolves so far. Only one win and two draws with four defeats are on the books after the seventh matchday. In addition, there is the dispute with star striker Kruse, whom Kovac unceremoniously booted out, and the harsh words against his own team and the quality of the squad after the game against Union Berlin. Accordingly, the Croatian is under pressure before the important basement duel against VfB.

A defeat could already seal his fate with the Wolves again. The ambitious Wolfsburg club management is not exactly known for its patience with coaches. Van Bommel, too, only survived the coaching job at Wolfsburg until October of the previous season. And his successor Kohfeld was sacked after the end of the season. Five points from seven games is also the worst start to the season for the Wolves in ten years.

Kovac needs a win against VfB

At home against VfB, a win is absolutely essential to nip the flared-up coach discussion in the bud. However, the performances of his team in front of the home crowd so far this season do not really give cause for hope. Although Wolfsburg has already hosted the two promoted teams, they have only scored two points in these two encounters. They also lost against Cologne. The defence in particular has been extremely vulnerable, with six goals conceded in the three home games. And the VfL is also lacking offensively. Nmecha, who has scored three of Wolfsburg’s five goals this season, is also absent.

After all, Kovac’s personal record as a coach against VfB gives cause for hope. The Croatian won three of the four duels as coach of Frankfurt and Bayern, and of the current Bundesliga teams, Kovac only has a better points record against Mainz (2.4). Since the Swabians have also gone 13 games without a win away from home and have only won once in Wolfsburg since 2005, the forecast for Wolfsburg against Stuttgart is that the Wolves will take at least one point from this encounter.

Qualitatively, VfL is stronger than VfB in the individual positions anyway. If the team takes up the fight in this match and performs as a unit, at least a draw against the Swabians, who are lousy away from home, should be possible. Since the Swabians have hardly scored any goals away from home, but have only conceded four goals away from home, we are also predicting a low-scoring encounter between Wolfsburg and VfB Stuttgart. In any case, this important clash in the bottom of the table is not expected to be a match to remember. With a win, Wolfsburg would gain important points in the relegation battle and give their coach some breathing space. Kovac will be without Nmecha, Brekalo, Pervan, Wind and Roussillon in this important match.

Predicted Wolfsburg line-up:
Casteels, Paulo Otavio, van de Ven, Lacroix, Baku, Franjic, Arnold, Svanberg, Kaminski, Waldschmidt, Marmoush

Last matches played by Wolfsburg:

Friendly club matches
22/09/2022 – VfL Wolfsburg 0 – 0 Hansa Rostock

Bundesliga
18/09/2022 – Union Berlin 2 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg

10/09/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 0 – 1 VfL Wolfsburg

03/09/2022 – VfL Wolfsburg 2 – 4 1. FC Köln

27/08/2022 – RB Leipzig 2 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg

VfB Stuttgart – Statistics & current form

For the first time in their Bundesliga history, VfB are still without a single win after seven matchdays. However, thanks to the numerous draws, they have already hoarded as many points as their upcoming opponents. Despite growing criticism in the surrounding area, VfB does not seem to be thinking about dismissing head coach Matarazzo, unlike some other Bundesliga clubs. So “Pelle” still seems to be firmly in the saddle, even a defeat in Wolfsburg would probably not change that.

VfB is treading water

Despite this, after almost three years of his tenure, it has to be said that he has not succeeded in developing the team decisively. This season, too, it is already becoming apparent that the Swabians’ only concern will be to stay in the league. Bright moments like the point win in Munich are followed by completely uninspired performances like the last home game against Frankfurt. Consistency looks different. A win against the Wolves would be an important first step away from the bottom of the table.

It is encouraging that the only away win of the entire season came against Wolfsburg last season and that the team also scored at home against Wolfsburg. In addition, the team’s own defence was strengthened during the international break with the addition of ex-Dortmund player Zagadou. However, VfB has not won away from home in 13 league games. Of the current Bundesliga teams, only Schalke has a longer winless streak in the Bundesliga. In addition, the win in Wolfsburg last season was the first win at the Wolves since the 2005/06 season and also the only away win last season.

And VfL has nothing to give away in the current situation. Therefore, our prediction for Wolfsburg against Stuttgart is that the Wolves will get at least a point. We also believe that it will be a close, fierce match with a lot of duels in midfield and few goalmouth scenes. Matarazzo will only be missing Vagnoman in Wolfsburg.

Projected line-up of VfB Stuttgart:
Müller, Ito, Zagadou, Mavropanos, Sosa, Ahamada, Karazor, Endo, Silas, Guirassy, Tomas

Last matches played by VfB Stuttgart:

Friendly club matches
22/09/2022 – VfB Stuttgart 2 – 1 Grasshopper Club

Bundesliga
17/09/2022 – VfB Stuttgart 1 – 3 Eintracht Frankfurt

10/09/2022 – Bayern Munich 2 – 2 VfB Stuttgart

03/09/2022 – VfB Stuttgart 1 – 1 Schalke 04

28/08/2022 – 1. FC Köln 0 – 0 VfB Stuttgart

Wolfsburg – VfB Stuttgart Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

The two teams have met 52 times in direct encounters in the Bundesliga and DFB Cup. The overall record is easily led by the Swabians. VfB triumphed 24 times, Wolves 20 times and the points were shared eight times. The goal difference of 77:75 is also slightly in favour of Stuttgart.

Last year, Stuttgart won at the Wolves, at the same time the only away victory for the Swabians in the whole of last season. Before that, however, VfB remained winless at the Wolves since the 2005/06 season.

Wolfsburg – VfB Stuttgart Tip

If you read between the lines in the statements made by VfL players and coach in recent weeks, the relationship between players and coach in Wolfsburg seems tarnished to say the least. While Kovac misses basic virtues like passion and fight among his players and publicly criticises the quality of his players, they in turn complain about his harsh treatment of the team. Nevertheless, everyone in Wolfsburg knows the seriousness of the situation and the importance of the upcoming match.

With Stuttgart, one of the weakest away teams in the Bundesliga in the recent past, coming to visit, we trust the Wolves to win at least one point. As we do not expect a goal festival in this match, which points the way ahead for both teams, we combine the bet on the double chance for the home team with the bet on Under 4.5 goals in Wolfsburg vs VfB Stuttgart.

In addition, four of the last six encounters between the two teams have only seen goals on one side. Given the problems of both teams, this is a result that is also likely for the upcoming encounter. Even a goalless draw, which would not really help either team, is anything but out of the question in this encounter, which will certainly be characterised by nervousness and error-avoidance on both sides.

The negative record for games without a goal of their own this Bundesliga season is also held by VfL – in four of the seven games so far this season, the Wolves have failed to score a goal of their own. In the last match against Union Berlin, there was not even a shot on the opponent’s goal. Our Wolfsburg vs. Stuttgart prediction is that at least one side will end up with a clean sheet.