Wolfsburg welcomes Hoffenheim in a heated atmosphere, with the Wolves sitting in 12th place and under enormous pressure after four consecutive Bundesliga defeats and a turbulent cup exit against Holstein Kiel. Coach Paul Simonis is fighting for his job, with reports of internal disputes and speculation about a change of coach, with Bruno Labbadia being touted as a possible successor. Several regulars are missing, including Joakim Maehle (shoulder injury) as well as Kamil Grabara, Denis Vavro, Moritz Jenz, and Jonas Wind, which is exacerbating the crisis. Hoffenheim seems more stable in comparison. After two wins in their last five league games, Christian Ilzer’s team will be looking to put their recent cup defeat at St. Pauli on penalties behind them. Ilzer recently criticized his team’s concentration on set pieces after Hoffenheim conceded an early corner goal in the cup game. In terms of injuries, Hoffenheim are hoping for the return of Vladimír Coufal, while Adam Hlozek remains sidelined. Tactically, Wolfsburg are currently vulnerable to set pieces and quick counterattacks, especially as personnel gaps make it difficult to maintain a compact formation. Hoffenheim are likely to try to control the tempo and set pieces, as well as punish Wolfsburg’s misplaced passes. Despite playing away from home, the visitors are slight favorites with the bookmakers, reflecting their current form. In a direct comparison, the last five encounters have always seen more than 2.5 goals scored, with both teams always finding the net. The last league match ended 2-2, while Wolfsburg’s cup victory was 3-0. Importantly, Hoffenheim conceded at least one goal in all five games, which gives Wolfsburg hope. Wolfsburg needs stability and an early success to ease the pressure. A home win would calm things down internally. Hoffenheim can set their sights on the upper half of the table with an away win and underpin the personnel unrest with the offer to sporting director Schicker. We can expect an open game with chances at both ends and increased risk from set pieces, which is why another high-scoring game seems likely.
- Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
- Date and time: November 2, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 9)
An open, high-scoring battle is expected. The primary tip is: Over 2.5 goals. Alternatively, “Both teams to score: Yes” is a good option. A safe alternative is the double chance X2 (draw or away win). Why over 2.5 goals? Both teams show offensive tendencies and defensive weaknesses. Hoffenheim has scored more than 1.5 goals in 80% of its recent games, and Fisnik Asllani is in strong form with 6 goals in 9 competitive games. Wolfsburg is under pressure after three home defeats and could be forced into risky offensive play. Defensive weaknesses on both sides, including Grabara, Vavro, Jenz, and Fischer for Wolfsburg and Gendrey and Machida for Hoffenheim, increase the likelihood of conceding goals. Why “Both teams to score: Yes”? Wolfsburg scored recently at HSV through Daghim despite personnel problems, while Hoffenheim has conceded at least one goal in four consecutive games, including a 3-1 win over Heidenheim. The absence of Hlozek weakens Hoffenheim’s offense somewhat, but Kramaric and Asllani continue to pose a goal threat. The double chance X2 appears to be the safer option, as the betting market rates the away team as slight favorites at around 2.3, while a draw is priced at around 3.9. Wolfsburg has many absences (nine) and internal tensions, which reduces stability. Therefore, hedging against a home defeat seems sensible. For the betting strategy, a moderate stake is recommended for the main bet Over 2.5 goals. “Both teams to score: Yes” can serve as a supplementary bet for hedging. For lower-risk players, the double chance X2 with a larger stake is a good option. Bankroll management remains important, as form and injuries can change at short notice.
Wolfsburg form & record check
Wolfsburg is in a noticeable slump, with four defeats in five competitive games. In particular, the 0-3 home defeat against Stuttgart and the 1-3 defeat in Augsburg reveal clear problems both defensively and offensively. In four of the last five games, the team was already behind at halftime. Eight of ten first halves had fewer than two goals, which speaks to a lack of punch and difficulties in gaining control of the game. The personnel situation is critical: nine injured or missing players, including Grabara, Vavro, Jenz, Maehle, Rogério, Fischer, Paredes, Lindstrøm, and Wind, weaken almost all parts of the team. The yellow-red card against Seelt in the cup further exacerbated the situation. The early goal conceded and the lost cup game highlighted the current lack of composure and stability. With eight points, Wolfsburg is in 12th place in the table, just ahead of HSV, five points behind the European places and with little buffer below. Internally, there is apparent unrest with a public dispute with sporting director Christiansen and speculation about a change of coach, with Bruno Labbadia considered a possible successor.
The personnel situation remains tense: numerous key players are missing, including goalkeeper Grabara with thigh problems, Joakim Maehle with a shoulder injury, and Wind and Lindstrøm. In addition, four options are unavailable in defense with Vavro, Jenz, Fischer, and Rogério. The expected formation is a 4-2-3-1. Müller is expected to be in goal. The back four will consist of Kumbedi on the right, Seelt and Koulierakis in central defense, and Zehnter on the left. In central midfield, captain Arnold and Vini Souza will form the defensive duo. The attacking trio could consist of Skov Olsen on the right, Eriksen in the center after a strong performance against HSV, and Amoura on the left, although Amoura is under particular scrutiny following comments made by coach Simonis. Pejcinovic is likely to be preferred to Daghim in the center of the attack.
Hoffenheim Form & Record Check
Hoffenheim travels to Wolfsburg with 13 points and in seventh place. The table is tight, level on points with Eintracht Frankfurt and only two points ahead of Cologne, which means that the good start to the season looks relatively solid, but there is no room for complacency yet. Their league performances have been decent: most recently an away win at St. Pauli (3-0), a home win against Heidenheim (3-1), and a 1-1 draw in Freiburg. In between, however, there was a 0-1 home defeat to Cologne. Overall, the team has scored in four of its last five games, but has conceded goals just as often. The cup defeat against St. Pauli is likely to have a mental impact. Hoffenheim took the lead, went to penalties and lost spectacularly after 18 shooters. The game was also marked by five yellow cards and heated scenes. The defense is severely depleted: Machida, Chaves, Gendrey, Coufal, Frees, and Behrens are all out, some with serious injuries such as cruciate ligament tears or broken feet. Striker Hlozek is still out with a broken scaphoid bone. Ilzer has to improvise, with stability resting on players such as Hranac and Akpoguma. Andrej Kramaric remains the dominant figure, while Fisnik Asllani is currently in good form and is already receiving media attention. The team shows punch in attack, but remains vulnerable in defense, which could become problematic with further absences. Hoffenheim appears resilient in the closing stages, without a defeat in the second half, and has offensive quality, but mental fragility after the cup disappointment. Defensive organization, discipline, and overcoming the disappointment of the cup defeat will be crucial for a good result in Wolfsburg.
Coach Christian Ilzer is expected to play a 4-2-3-1 formation again. Baumann will be in goal, with Akpoguma, Hranac, Kabak, and Prass forming the back four. Prömel and Burger are likely to occupy the defensive midfield. In the attacking trio, Touré, Kramaric, and Lemperle will provide impetus, with Asllani, who has scored six goals in nine competitive games, expected to lead the line. Hoffenheim are missing a number of players: Hlozek is out long-term with a broken scaphoid bone, while Gendrey, Coufal, Machida, Chaves and the two youngsters Frees and Behrens are all unavailable in defense. These absences explain Ilzer’s limited personnel options and his reliance on a stable starting lineup.
Wolfsburg – Hoffenheim Head-to-head & Statistics
The record from the last five competitive games slightly favors Wolfsburg: 2 wins for Wolfsburg, 1 win for Hoffenheim, and 2 draws. High-scoring games dominated the series, with all five encounters ending with at least three goals. Wolfsburg scored in all five games, while Hoffenheim conceded at least one goal in each. Here’s an overview of the most recent results: May 2025 ended 2-2 at the Volkswagen Arena, January 2025 saw Wolfsburg win 1-0 away in Hoffenheim, and December 2024 saw Wolfsburg win 3-0 at home in the cup round of 16. Other games from 2024 and 2023 ended 2-2 in Wolfsburg and 3-1 for Hoffenheim in Sinsheim. The pairing is characterized by the offensive orientation of both teams, with defensive restraint being rare. The second halves in particular tended to be high-scoring, indicating increased tension and changing game patterns after the break. Wolfsburg has shown strength at home during this period and has been impressive in seasons with important home wins. Based on history, goals are likely, above 2.5 goals, and both teams have a good chance of scoring. Wolfsburg has a slight psychological advantage due to its mostly positive record and the 3-0 cup result at home, while Hoffenheim remains competitive with away wins and draws.
