VfL Wolfsburg – SC Freiburg
Last Saturday at 3:30 pm, many soccer fans were missing something. The sofa was ready and a cold drink was also on the table, but the Bundesliga only offered three games. This weekend, however, there will once again be five games in the conference. Two mid-table teams will meet in Lower Saxony. Eighth-placed Freiburg take on 11th-placed VfL Wolfsburg. Find out everything else in our Wolfsburg – Freiburg betting tip.
Meanwhile, neither team is in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. While Freiburg were eliminated in the 2nd round by Paderborn from the 2nd Bundesliga, VfL Wolfsburg were eliminated on Tuesday after extra time at Borussia-Park in Gladbach.
The two teams are currently separated by just two points in the league. In the previous week, however, the teams experienced completely different emotions. The Wolves lost 3:1 at VfL Bochum, while SC Freiburg secured a hard-fought 1:0 win at Mainz 05
Wolfsburg – Freiburg Info:
- Date & Time: 09.12.2023, 15:30 h
- Playing venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 14
- TV broadcast: Sky
Wolfsburg Form & Balance Check
Wolfsburg are a permanent fixture in the Bundesliga in the 21st century and have often featured in European competition. However, the Wolves were last represented internationally in the 2021/22 season. At that time, however, VfL had no chance in the group stage of the Champions League.
Wolfsburg then finished the past two seasons in twelfth and eighth place in the league. In the league, it now appears that they are once again not heading for Europe. The Lower Saxons are currently in 11th place in the table and have picked up just four points from their last seven games. In the previous week, they also suffered a disappointing 1:3 at relegation candidates Bochum
Intensity does not help
Once again this year, coach Niko Kovac presents a team with enormous commitment. VfL Wolfsburg almost lead the Bundesliga in the number of sprints, only just behind Heidenheim. In addition, the team has recorded the most intensive runs in the league so far. The Wolves’ game is based on fast and explosive moves.
VfL also finally have a designated goalscorer in their ranks this season. Jonas Wind has already scored a strong new goal this season, putting him in fourth place in the league. However, no VfL player has scored more than one goal in the Bundesliga so far
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
- Only one win in the last seven Bundesliga games
- Out of the cup at Gladbach on Tuesday
- Lost 3:1 in Bochum the previous week
Freiburg Form & Balance Check
SC Freiburg are once again playing a rock-solid season and once again have nothing to do with relegation, which is still the top priority for coach Christian Streich’s team. The Breisgauers currently occupy 8th place in the table, which may be enough to qualify for the Conference League at the end of the season.
However, Freiburg’s most recent results are not outstanding. SCF have won just one of their last five Bundesliga matches. However, with Leverkusen, Gladbach and Leipzig, among others, SCF also had some very difficult tasks ahead of them
Counter susceptibility in Breisgau
In the previous week, Freiburg earned a hard-fought 1-0 win at FSV Mainz 05, in which goalkeeper Noah Atubolu probably had his best game of the season. The 21-year-old thwarted several top-class Mainz chances and kept a clean sheet for only the fourth time this season. Atubolu also prevented one or two goals from being conceded following a FSV counter-attack.
The Breisgau side have been particularly vulnerable in this category so far this season. SCF have already conceded six goals after a counter-attack by the opposing team, which is the highest figure in the league. Fortunately for Freiburg, their upcoming opponents from Wolfsburg are the only Bundesliga team not to have scored once on the counter-attack this season
Freiburg facts & analysis
- First two away wins
- In 8th place in the league
- Won 1:0 in Mainz the previous week
Predicted line-up – last update on December 9, 2023
Despite their recent misery, we expect Wolfsburg to return to a 3-4-3. Wimer, Nmecha and Sarr will still be missing in VfL’s offense. With Gerhardt and Tomás not necessarily convincing up front against Gladbach, we expect to see Cerny and Majer alongside Jonas Wind again on Saturday.
Freiburg also played in a 3-4-3 formation recently and we think that Christian Streich will send his team out against Wolfsburg in the same formation. Matthias Ginter, who had to be substituted early on in Mainz, will probably be available to SCF again
Wolfsburg – Freiburg head-to-head & stats
The two teams have met 42 times in competitive matches so far and the balance is mostly even. Wolfsburg have won 16 times, while Freiburg have recorded 15 victories. The home team won each of last season’s duels. The Breisgau side won the last encounter 2-0 on matchday 33 of the previous season.
- Wolfsburg have only won two of their last ten encounters with Freiburg
- When Wolfsburg lead 1-0 at home, they win 66% of games
- Both teams score two points in the league
