In the Bundesliga‘s third last matchweek, hosts Borussia Dortmund will hope to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League by beating Wolfsburg on Saturday at Signal Iduna Park.
BVB’s 3-2 victory against Hoffenheim on April 26 means they come into the weekend in sixth place with 48 points, whereas the Wolves are in 12th place with 39 points after losing 1-0 against Freiburg on the same date.
Match preview
Dortmund were leading 2-1 against Hoffenheim when their opponents scored in the 91st minute, but a 95th-minute strike from Waldemar Anton ensured his side claimed all three points.
BVB’s rich vein of goalscoring form continued, and the team have now found the back of the net 15 times in their past five league outings, as many as they managed in their previous 10.
Head coach Niko Kovac‘s team currently occupy the division’s Conference League qualification spot but just three points separate them from fourth-placed Freiburg, who hold the final Champions League qualification spot.
The Black and Yellows come into Saturday’s clash unbeaten in their last five in the top flight, winning four and earning a point against fierce rivals Bayern Munich on April 12, though they did concede eight goals in that period.
Dortmund have achieved victory in their three most recent matches at Signal Iduna Park, whereas they had lost four, drawn five and won just two of their prior 11 at home.
Meanwhile, Wolfsburg’s attacking threat against Freiburg was limited, generating just one shot on target across the 90 minutes, as well as only producing one open-play effort from inside the box.
Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl‘s side have failed to score in four of their past six and have not kept a clean sheet in 11 games.
The Wolves suffered a 3-1 defeat against Dortmund in the Bundesliga on December 22, a game in which BVB raced into a three-goal lead in the first half and held out despite being reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark.
The visitors were in contention for a place in Europe next term, but having lost five and drawn one of their last six in the Bundesliga, they can realistically no longer qualify for continental football.
Wolfsburg’s showings away from home have been poor in recent weeks, with the Wolves suffering two losses while being held to one stalemate in their past three.
Team News
Dortmund have often used Emre Can in defence but with Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross injured, the German may play alongside Felix Nmecha in midfield.
Attacker Maximilian Beier‘s ankle injury is set to sideline him until late May, and his absence could lead to Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi being used in support of Serhou Guirassy.
Niklas Sule, Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini started in a back three against Hoffenheim, and given Nico Schlotterbeck will be absent, the trio are likely to be stationed together once again.
Wolfsburg will not be able to select midfielder Maximilian Arnold due to suspension, while Mattias Svanberg is injured, so perhaps Bence Dardai and Yannick Gerhardt will be chosen in the middle of the pitch.
Jonas Wind and Mohamed El Amine Amoura could play ahead of attacker Patrick Wimmer, though forward Kevin Behrens has been ruled out.
With defenders Kevin Paredes, Rogerio and Sebastiaan Bornauw unavailable, centre-backs Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro and Konstantinos Koulierakis could be flanked by wing-backs Jakub Kaminski and Joakim Maehle.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Sule, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Can, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis; Kaminski, Dardai, Gerhardt, Maehle; Wimmer; Wind, Amoura
We say: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Wolfsburg
Dortmund’s impressive performances have given them a real chance of Champions League football, and they will be confident of seeing past Wolfsburg.
The visitors have little to play for and considering they have struggled recently, they may come to Signal Iduna Park deflated.
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