Table of Contents
VfL Wolfsburg vs. Schalke 04
Two teams will meet in the Bundesliga this weekend, both still waiting for their first win of the season. VfL Wolfsburg will host FC Schalke 04 in the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday at 15:30.
Last weekend, however, both teams managed a respectable success. While the Königsblauen earned a point with a 2:2 draw against highly rated Gladbach, the VfL ‘only’ lost 0:2 at FC Bayern München.
In the direct duel on Saturday, however, the Wolves remain the favourites. They have won four times in a row against Schalke. Whether we still think the Schalke side have a chance of winning their first match of the season and what other predictions we have for this game can be found in our Wolfsburg vs Schalke tip.
Wolfsburg – Schalke Info
– Date & Time: 20.08.2022, 15:30 Uhr
– Venue: Wolfsburg, Volkswagen Arena
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 3
– TV broadcast: Sky
Wolfsburg Form & Balance Check
After a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen at the start of the season, VfL Wolfsburg lost flatteringly 2-0 at FC Bayern Munich last weekend. Against the champions, the Wolves only held their own for the first ten minutes, from then on they were trapped at the back. However, the Munich team only made use of two of their numerous big chances. It was the first defeat for the Wolves in six games this season. On matchday 34 of the previous season, they held FCB to a 2-2 draw at home.
Guilavogui suddenly important again?
With Mattias Svanberg, Omar Marmoush and Patrick Wimmer, three newcomers immediately made it into the starting eleven for VfL. However, they have not yet fully convinced. Marmoush and Wimmer have already shone as scorers, but have not yet had the desired influence on Wolfsburg’s game. Svanberg has also not quite arrived yet and could be replaced against Schalke by Joshua Guilavogui, who has been playing strongly of late. Wimmer will have to take a break against Schalke anyway with a head injury.
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
– Last lost 0:2 against Bayern
– 1 point from first 2 games
– Lost only 1 of last 6 league games on a season-long basis
Schalke form & balance check
A meagre point is what the promoted side know on their Bundesliga account after two games. After losing 3-1 in Cologne at the start of the season, the Schalke side drew 2-2 with Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend. In both matches, however, the Königsblauen sold themselves better than the results would suggest. Against Cologne, two extremely questionable VAR decisions put them behind, against Gladbach a gross goalkeeping error by Alexander Schwolow.
Statistics clearly against S04
If the Schalkers were to quadruple their points haul on this matchday, it would be of almost historic proportions. They last celebrated an away win in the Bundesliga on matchday 12 of the 2019/20 season, when they won 2-1 in Bremen. They have lost all of their last eight Bundesliga games on foreign soil, and in total they have been waiting for a win for 29 BL away games. The Königsblauen are also winless against Wolfsburg in five matches. The last four defeats in a row are also a novelty in this encounter.
Schalke facts & analysis
– Last played 2:2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
– 1 point from the first 2 games
– Winless in 5 duels with Wolfsburg
Predicted line-up – last update on 18 August 2022
VfL Wolfsburg should be much more attacking at home against Schalke than they were last weekend in Munich. We expect Max Kruse to make his first starting eleven appearance of the season on Saturday. Patrick Wimmer is out at short notice with a head injury and will probably be replaced by Josip Brekalo or Luca Waldschmidt. Joshua Guilavogui, who has been playing well lately, could replace newcomer Mattias Svanberg on the bench.
After a great performance against Gladbach, we expect the Schalkers to be unchanged against Wolfsburg. In the 4-2-2 system, promotion hero Simon Terodde and his congenial partner Marius Bülter form the double top. New signing Simon Polter has not been convincing so far and will probably sit on the bench again. Depending on how the game goes, newcomer Jordan Larsson may also come off the bench. Dominick Drexler is still suspended after receiving a red card in the Cologne match
The group is above everything 🤝
Preview of WOBS04 🗞️⤵️
______________________
Secure tickets now for the preview of the S04 documentary 👉🏽 https://t.co/WS4GKZnp3K– FC Schalke 04 (@s04) August 18, 2022
Wolfsburg – Schalke direct comparison & stats
As mentioned at the beginning, Wolfsburg have won each of their last four meetings with FC Schalke 04. In their last encounter on matchday 25 of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season, the Königsblauen fell to a 5-0 defeat at VfL. However, only Malick Thiaw remains from the starting eleven at that time. However, the Knappen still lead the overall standings with 19 victories. Wolfsburg won 17 duels, just as many games ended in draws.
– Wolfsburg won each of the last 4 matches against Schalke
– Schalke did not score in any of their last 3 matches against Wolfsburg
– Schalke last won in Wolfsburg in 2018
