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Schalke 04 – VfL Wolfsburg
The Bundesliga kicks off its 20th matchday this weekend. The second half of the season is progressing more and more. Next week, the first games in the round of 16 of the Champions League are already on the agenda. On Friday evening, however, two teams will meet in the Bundesliga who do not have to worry about the additional burden of international football. Schalke 04, bottom of the table, will receive VfL Wolfsburg.
Schalke has again not been particularly successful this season. The only goal for the team from Gelsenkirchen is to stay in the league. However, Schalke currently occupy last place in the Bundesliga with only eleven points scored. In the last two games, however, the Knappen at least managed a 0-0 draw each time.
Wolfsburg are playing a much better season than last year. However, the Wolves have not been able to maintain their good start to the new calendar year. On Sunday, they suffered an unnecessary 2:4 defeat against Bayern. However, the VfL is still in seventh place in the Bundesliga. Find out whether the Lower Saxons can get back on track against the last team in the table in our Schalke vs Wolfsburg betting tips.
Schalke – Wolfsburg Info:
– Date & Time: 10.02.2023, 20:30 Uhr
– Venue: VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 20
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Schalke Form & Balance Check
Schalke’s season is actually off to quite a promising start. The promoted team lost only two of the first six games. However, this was followed by six defeats in a row. At the turn of the year, S04 were in last place in the table with nine points. At the start of the new year, the team suffered two more bitter defeats.
In the last two games, however, the team of coach Thomas Reis stabilised considerably. Against 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach, the team at the bottom of the table played well and fought their way to two 0:0 draws. In both games, even more would have been possible for the Knappen.
Army of Schalke players on loan
The financial situation at FC Schalke 04 has been very precarious for several years. For this reason, the Knappen are relying mainly on loan players in their squad planning this year. Ten players on loan are currently under contract with S04. No other club in the league has loaned out as many players as Schalke.
In the winter transfer window alone, Schalke loaned out six players: Moritz Jenz, Tim Skarke, Michael Frey, Éder Balanta, Niklas Tauer and Jere Uronen. In the first games of the second half of the season, the newcomers showed their added value for the team. Schalke fans are hoping that the new players can still help the team to make a recovery.
Schalke facts & analysis
– Only two wins in the league
– Only 14 goals in 19 games
– 5 points in last 13 Bundesliga games
Wolfsburg form & balance check
VfL Wolfsburg initially needed some start-up time under their new coach Niko Kovač this season. After a very shaky start, however, VfL quickly stabilised. Between matchday eight and matchday 17, the Wolves remained unbeaten in the league for ten games.
However, Wolfsburg lost their last three competitive matches. In the match against Bayern on Sunday, however, VfL was actually the better team. The Wolves fired 22 shots towards the Bayern goal and created four great chances. In the end, however, they still lost 2:4. The team from Lower Saxony remains in seventh place in the table.
From relegation battle to international business?
Despite the recent negative results, VfL is playing a much better season than last year. Niko Kovač has managed to breathe new life into the team. Wolfsburg currently have eight points more on their account than at the same time last year. Especially on the offensive side, there is a world of difference between this season and last season. So far this season, VfL has scored 21 goals more than in the previous season.
One reason for this turnaround is the way the Lower Saxons play. The Wolves are the team with the most runs in the league. VfL Wolfsburg has both the most sprints and the most intensive runs in the entire Bundesliga. Ridle Baku is particularly striking in this regard. The right-back has completed 625 sprints so far this Bundesliga season, the most in the league.
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
– Already four away defeats in the league.
– Lost last three competitive matches
– Fourth best offense in the Bundesliga
Predicted lineup – last updated Feb 8, 2023
Fc Schalke 04 will probably field a 4-3-3, as they did last time against Gladbach. Terodde will play up front. Balanta will operate as a stable backstop in front of the defence. Fährmann showed very solid performances in the last two games and will be in goal again. Sebastian Polter will be missing due to injury. Sepp van den Berg rejoined training during the week and will probably return to the squad.
Against Bayern, coach Niko Kovač had his team play with a three-man backline. But it was only with the change to a four-man defence that VfL looked really dangerous. Therefore, we think Wolfsburg will play in a 4-3-3 again. Lukas Nmecha is also fit again and could return to the starting eleven.
Schalke – Wolfsburg direct comparison & stats
Both teams have met 54 times in competitive matches so far. Schalke won 19 games and Wolfsburg 17, but S04 are without a win against the Wolves since January 2019. The first leg at the Volkswagen Arena ended in a 0-0 draw.
– Both teams are separated by 18 points in the league.
– Wolfsburg are without defeat in six games against Schalke.
– Schalke have already picked up two home wins this season
– Did you know that Schalke score 36% of their goals between the 76-90 minute?
– Wolfsburg have failed to score in 3 of their 10 away matches in the Bundesliga this season
