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VfL Wolfsburg – SC Freiburg
For many football enthusiasts, the last few weeks were missing something on Saturday at 15:30. The sofa was still there and a cold drink was also on the table, but the Bundesliga was not on TV. Now, however, the time of waiting is finally over, as the German top flight resumes play. And to kick things off, a top match is on the agenda in Lower Saxony. Second-placed Freiburg travel to VfL Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg had a weak start to the season, but picked up more and more in the course of the first half of the season. The Wolves won all of their last four games in the league. Before the next matchday, the VfL finds itself in seventh place in the table. The last match before the winter break was won by the Wolves against Hoffenheim with 2:1.
SC Freiburg is seamlessly continuing the terrific work of the last few years this season. Coach Christian Streich’s team is currently in second place in the table. The Breisgauers have only lost three games and are only four points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Freiburg won the last match before the winter break 4:1 against Union Berlin. Find out which team will start better from the break in our Wolfsburg vs Freiburg tip.
Wolfsburg – Freiburg info:
– Date & Time: 21.01.2023, 15:30 Uhr
– Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 16
– TV broadcast: Sky
Wolfsburg Form & Balance Check
VfL Wolfsburg have been a perennial contender in the Bundesliga in the 21st century. In recent seasons, the team from the Autostadt has always fluctuated between European ambitions and a fight against relegation. Last season, VfL played against relegation again for a long time. Only one defeat in the last six Bundesliga games helped the Lower Saxons to a secure twelfth place in the table.
This season, VfL has gone to the other extreme. The Wolves are currently seventh in the table. The last games before the winter break, Wolfsburg’s form also rose extremely. The Lower Saxons are eight games without defeat in the league. They have also won all of their last four Bundesliga games. Wolfsburg won their last match before the break with a 2-1 victory over TSG Hoffenheim.
Intensity in the game
The team of coach Niko Kovač shows a lot of effort this year. VfL Wolfsburg make the most sprints in the entire Bundesliga. The Wolves have also made the most intense runs in the league so far. Wolfsburg’s game is based on fast and explosive plays.
However, VfL Wolfsburg does not have a designated goal scorer. The team’s top scorer is national striker Lukas Nmecha with just four goals. Maximilian Arnold, Ridle Baku and Yannick Gerhardt follow with three goals. In total, the Wolves have received 24 goals in 15 games so far, putting them in mid-table in the league.
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
– Four Bundesliga wins in a row.
– The third best defence in the league
– Eight games without defeat
Freiburg form & balance check
On 29 November 2011, Christian Streich succeeded current national team co-coach Marcus Sorg as coach at SC Freiburg. At the time, no one could have imagined that Streich would still be coaching SCF eleven years later. During the 57-year-old’s time in charge, Freiburg has become one of the top teams in the Bundesliga.
This season, Freiburg has even surpassed the expectations of its most daring fans. The Breisgau team is currently in second place in the table and is only four points behind the leaders from Munich. Freiburg have only lost to the three top clubs Dortmund, Bayern and Leipzig in the league so far. The SCF won the last game before the winter break with 4:1 against Union Berlin, who were the league leaders for a long time this season.
The Breisgau Wall
Freiburg have won four of their last five Bundesliga games, going three times without conceding a goal. In total, goalkeeper Mark Flekken even kept a clean sheet eight times this season. With only 17 goals conceded, Freiburg even has the second-best defence in the league. The experienced internationals Matthias Ginter and Christian Günter in particular provide a bulwark in the Freiburg penalty area.
In attack, Vincenzo Grifo and Michael Gregoritsch are responsible for the goals. The newcomer from FC Augsburg has scored six times so far. Grifo even ranks fourth in the Bundesliga scoring list with his nine goals. The Italian is particularly dangerous in standard situations. Grifo has already scored four penalty goals and put a direct free kick into the net.
Freiburg facts & analysis
– Only two away defeats.
– Already eight games in the league to zero
– On a Champion League place since matchday 4
Predicted line-up – last update on 19 January 2023
We expect VfL Wolfsburg to play in a 4-1-4-1 with Maximilian Arnold taking the important role in central midfield in front of the defence. Franjic, Paredes, Wimmer and Lukas Nmecha are missing for VfL due to injury.
Freiburg recently played in a 3-4-3 and we think Christian Streich will send his team out in this formation against Wolfsburg as well. Manuel Gulde and Jonathan Schmid are injured and will be out for the match against Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg – Freiburg direct comparison & stats
Both teams have faced each other 40 times in competitive matches so far and the record is mostly even. Wolfsburg have had the upper hand 15 times and Freiburg have won 14. The two duels last season were won by the SCF. The last meeting on matchday 26 of the pre-season was won 3:2 by the Breisgau side.
– Wolfsburg have won only one of their last eight duels with Freiburg.
– When Wolfsburg lead 1-0 in home games, they win 70% of the matches.
– Wolfsburg have not lost any of their last 5 home matches
– Freiburg have scored in six of their eight away matches in the Bundesliga this season
