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RB Leipzig vs. VfL Wolfsburg
This weekend the Bundesliga starts into the fourth matchday of the young season. With a total of eight teams, almost half of the league is still without a win after three games and in urgent search of a sense of achievement. This includes RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg, who meet directly on Saturday. Both have certainly imagined a different start to the season. The game kicks off at 3:30 pm at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, and you can find our prediction in the following Leipzig vs Wolfsburg tip.
Consequently, the two winless rivals are currently in the bottom half of the table. With two points from the first three games, Leipzig and Wolfsburg are currently level on points, although the Saxons are ahead of the Wolves due to their better goal difference. RB are in eleventh place, while VfL are in 14th. For the hosts, the situation represents a novelty; never before has Leipzig been without a win in the Bundesliga after four matchdays. A Wolfsburg defeat on Saturday, on the other hand, would mean the worst start in 21 years for the Lower Saxons.
Leipzig – Wolfsburg Info
– Date & Time: 27.08.2022, 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 4
– TV broadcast: Sky
Leipzig Form & Balance Check
RB Leipzig went into the new season with great expectations. In the second half of the previous season, the Saxons were the best team in the Bundesliga under Domenico Tedesco and crowned their strong form with the DFB Cup title. In the first full season under the successful coach, the Saxons were then considered by many to be among Bayern’s toughest rivals, especially since important regulars such as Christopher Nkunku and Konrad Laimer were retained. The status quo, however, looks different. After only two points from the first three games, RB is currently seven points away from the leaders from Munich.
New signings disappointing so far
In the first match of the season, Leipzig was shown the limits by the record champion early on, the Supercup was deservedly won by Bayern. RB then started the league with two draws against Stuttgart and Leipzig, and last weekend they lost 1:2 against clever and efficient Union despite massive possession. One possible reason for the poor form could be the slow start of the newcomers. Timo Werner has so far remained pale except for his goal against Cologne, David Raum is not yet a decisive factor either. Xaver Schlager, who came from Wolfsburg, has not yet had the chance to play for his new team in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig facts & analysis
– 11th place in the Bundesliga, 2 points from 3 games.
– Last lost 1:2 at Union
– Still winless after 4 competitive games
Wolfsburg Form & Balance Check
VfL Wolfsburg want to get back into international business this season. New coach Niko Kovac is expected to make up for last season’s debacle, in which his exits Mark van Bommel and Florian Kohfeldt ensured not only twelfth place in the Bundesliga but also the earliest possible exits in the Champions League and DFB Cup. But so far the desired progress has failed to materialise. With the narrow 1-0 victory over Jena in the cup, Kovac has only one competitive match win under his belt as Wolfsburg coach. That should change on Saturday in Leipzig.
Missing continuity in the Autostadt
There, VfL are also looking for their first league win of the new season. Like their upcoming opponents, Wolfsburg have already drawn twice, in both cases against promoted teams. In between, there was also a tolerable defeat at Bayern, in which the Wolves sold themselves quite dearly. Coach Kovac is not only looking for consistency in his performances, but also in his personnel. In four competitive matches, the football coach has never relied on the same starting eleven twice. In Wolfsburg’s large squad, therefore, automatisms could hardly form, and the lack of playing time could also cause dissatisfaction among players like Max Kruse or Luca Waldschmidt.
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
– Currently 14th in the Bundesliga, 2 points from 3 games.
– Last played 0:0 against Schalke
– Without a goal for 2 games
Predicted line-up – last update on 25 August 2022
On the Leipzig side, captain Gulacsi is expected to return to the team after injury. On the left side of the three-man backline, Halstenberg is an alternative to the recently injured Gvardiol, while Haidara could also replace Kampl in the centre. The rest of the team seems to be set. Szoboszlai (red suspension), Klostermann (ankle) and Poulsen (thigh) are still missing.
Wolfsburg’s starting eleven could once again be a surprise package. The experiment with Bornauw as a right-back ended early against Schalke, but the Belgian could now displace van de Ven from central defence. Should VfL again go for a 4-3-3, only the position on the right wing would still be in contention. If Wimmer is not fit in time, Kruse, Kaminski, Waldschmidt and Brekalo are available as alternatives here.
Leipzig – Wolfsburg direct comparison & Statistics
RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg have played 18 games against each other so far, twelve of which have come in the Bundesliga. Overall, the Saxons are ahead with eight victories, while the Wolves have won four times. Six other games ended in a draw. Last season, the home team won each of these encounters, before which there were four draws in a row. RB is also unbeaten in seven home games against Wolfsburg.
– VfL Wolfsburg’s last away win at RB Leipzig was in 2017.
– The comparisons between the two clubs last season: 2-0 (home to RB Leipzig) and 1-0 (home to VfL Wolfsburg).
– In front of home crowd, RB Leipzig has a proud streak of 7 games without defeat against VfL Wolfsburg.
– The average goals scored in a meeting between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg is 2.6.
– The most common result when RB Leipzig vs VfL Wolfsburg has been 2-0, when RB Leipzig has had home advantage. 3 games ended like this.
