Table of Contents
Hertha BSC – VfL Wolfsburg
Just a few days after the start of the new year, the Bundesliga continues in quick succession. The 17th matchday will be played during the week and for VfL Wolfsburg, the away game at Hertha BSC is on the agenda. Kick-off is at the Berlin Olympiastadion on Tuesday evening at 20:30.
The omens for this match are clearly in favour of the visitors. Wolfsburg have lost only one of their last ten Bundesliga encounters with the Old Lady and have been unbeaten five times in a row at the Olympiastadion. The current form speaks even more clearly in favour of the VfL, who, after a poor start to the season, have been getting better and better and have recently recorded five wins in a row.
The Berliners, on the other hand, have lost four of their last five matches and, after the recent defeat in Bochum, have slipped into a relegation spot for the second time this season. But it is precisely this fact that should give all blue and white supporters hope. On Matchday 5, they were bottom of the table with a 2-0 win in Augsburg.
Hertha -Wolfsburg Infos
– Date & Time: 24.01.2023, 20:30 hrs.
– Venue: Berlin, Olympiastadion
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 17
– TV broadcast: Sky
Hertha Form & Balance Check
After three defeats in a row before, the Berliners won their last game before the winter break against 1. FC Köln with 2-0. They were keen to build on this success last weekend in Bochum, but once again nothing came of it. After Lucas Tousart’s disallowed goal, VfL took a 2-0 lead before the break. In the 56th minute, striker Philipp Hofmann scored his second goal of the day to give VfL the lead. The Old Lady only managed to score a late 1:3 equaliser in the person of Suat Serdar (87th minute).
Weeks of truth
Compared to the previous season, the Berliners have improved their play, but all in all there are simply too few points. 14 points after 16 games are the worst yield since the relegation season 2009/10, when they had only six points at that time. A look at the programme for the next few weeks does not exactly inspire hope.
After the home game against the in-form VfL, the Old Lady will host city rivals Union Berlin before three more tough games await them in Frankfurt, Gladbach and Dortmund. The capital city team will have to be careful not to lose sight of their rivals Stuttgart (15 points), Augsburg (15 points) and Bochum (16 points) in the coming weeks.
Hertha facts & analysis
– 14 points from 16 games
– Last lost 1:3 in Bochum
– Weakest interim record since 2009/10 relegation season
Wolfsburg form & balance check
VfL Wolfsburg and Niko Kovac – this seems to be a success story after all. After the more than disappointing start to the season and only one win from the first seven games, Maximilian Arnold & Co. have apparently internalised the principles of their new head coach better and better, which has finally been reflected in the results for some time now. For nine Bundesliga games, the Wolves have not lost, the last five were won without exception. The goal difference of these five victories is 17:1.
High flight continues
The start to the new calendar year could hardly have been better for VfL. Patrick Wimmer got the game off to a dream start against SC Freiburg in the first minute of the game and Jonas Wind added two more goals before the end of the second half (28th, 37th). In the second period, the Breisgau side did not want to surrender without a fight, but conceded three more goals and in the end had to concede a clear 6-0 defeat. This was the first time since May 2014 that the Wolves had won five Bundesliga matches in a row. Back then, the series came to an end after six victories.
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
– 26 points from 16 games
– Last 6:0 win against Freiburg
– Last 5 games won
Predicted line-up – last update on 23 January 2023
For the Berliners, Dodi Lukebakio returns after serving his yellow suspension. Ivan Sunjic could replace the disappointing Jean-Paul Boetius. Captain Marvin Plattenhardt is another option at left back. Newcomer Florian Niederlechner, Chidera Ejuke and Kelian Nsona are missing due to injury.
The Wolves have no reason for personnel changes. Patrick Wimmer is slightly injured, but will probably still be able to play against Hertha. Alternatives would be Omar Marmoush, Kevin Paredes or Luca Waldschmidt
Hertha – Wolfsburg direct comparison & Statistics
The direct comparison is very narrowly in favour of the Berliners with 21 to 20 wins and 16 draws. In recent years, however, the pendulum has swung more in the direction of Wolfsburg. The VfL is unbeaten in four matches and has lost only one of the last ten encounters. In their last five visits to the Olympiastadion in Berlin, the Wolves have always brought home something worthwhile.
– The average number of goals scored in a Hertha BSC-VfL Wolfsburg clash is 2.
– A year ago, VfL Wolfsburg were 11th in the table with 20 points. Currently, they are in 7th position (23).
– A look at Hertha BSC: Dodi Lukebakio is the top scorer with 7 goals. Lukas Nmecha scored 4 times for VfL Wolfsburg.
– Did you know that VfL Wolfsburg score 25% of their goals between the 76-90 minute?
