Dortmund keen to end three-game winless run.
[introduction]
VfL Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund kicks off at 16:30 [GMT] on Sunday, December 22, at the Volkswagen Arena.
[home]
Ahead of the final Bundesliga match of the calendar year before the winter break, Wolfsburg are hoping to pick up five league victories in a row [LWWWW]. Their only defeat in the run came last weekend at Freiburg, where they lost 3-2, as goals from Jonas Wind [75’] and Mattias Svanberg [83’] weren’t enough to prevent the Wolves from recording their first defeat in eight games [5W, 2D, 1L]. Nevertheless, Wolfsburg remain in contention for a European qualification spot as they occupy the 10th spot with 21 points [6W, 3D, 5L]. The Wolves would be eager to make the most of home advantage this weekend to leapfrog Dortmund in the standings, as just a single point separates the sides ahead of Matchday 15. Ralph Hasenhüttl would be wary of Dortmund, who have won in ten of their last 12 league meetings [10W, 1D, 1L]. However, they could draw inspiration from their improved form at home, having won their last two league matches, equalling their total home wins from the previous 16 games [2W, 5D, 9L]. The 2008/09 champions are expected to deploy a 4—4—2 formation on Sunday with Mohamed Amoura and Tiago Tomas leading the line. There are several players on the treatment list, including Rogério, Bartosz Białek, and Sebastiaan Bornauw, as well as three others.
[away]
Dortmund [LWDDD] thought they had secured three points in last weekend’s game after Giovanni Reyna’s [46’] goal. However, they were denied a win by a late Hoffenheim equaliser. The 1-1 draw piles more pressure on manager Nuri Şahin as Die Borussen are now winless in their last four matches [0W, 3D, 1L]. Die Borussen are enduring a torrid run as they are placed in the 8th position with 22 points from 14 games [6W, 4D, 4L], their worst start to a top-flight campaign in seven years. That poor performance has been aided by their inability to pick up a win on the road this season [0W, 2D, 4L] as they conceded 13 goals on away soil—their worst run since 2014/15. Dortmund have not won a competitive game in December [6D, 4L] for three years, dating back to a 3-0 victory over Greuther Fürth on 15 December 2021. Moreover, there’s an injury crisis in Dortmund’s camp as defenders Waldemar Anton, Niklas Süle, and Filippo Mané are on the treatment table. Julian Brandt and Julian Ryerson are in doubt for the Sunday game. Serhou Guirassy, who has six goals against Wolfsburg, is expected in attack when Şahin deploys the 4—2—3—1 formation.
