Prediction: Wolfsburg vs Borussia Dortmund

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Wolfsburg will face a challenging DFB-Pokal second-round fixture against Borussia Dortmund, who come into the match after a dominant 4-1 first-round win over Phonix Lubeck.

The Wolves narrowly edged past Koblenz in their opener, winning 1-0, and currently sit 14th in the Bundesliga with just eight points, under pressure to find form. Dortmund, managed by Nuri Sahin, have shown more consistency and attacking flair in both domestic and cup competitions, making them favorites in this all-Bundesliga showdown at the Volkswagen Arena, despite defensive concerns.

Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg’s struggles have continued despite showing dominance against lower-tier opponents like Koblenz in the first DFB-Pokal round, where they controlled possession but only scraped a 1-0 win. With just three wins from nine competitive outings this season and two in the Bundesliga, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side has yet to find consistency. Their recent 0-0 draw with newly-promoted St. Pauli saw them create but fail to convert several opportunities, with six shots inside the penalty area and two clear-cut chances. Hasenhuttl expressed satisfaction with the balance between offence and defence after halftime but admitted the need for sharper finishing.

The Wolves’ recent form – just one win in their last six matches and a poor home record with four losses and a draw – suggests they’ll face a tough challenge against Borussia Dortmund. They will need to improve their effectiveness in front of goal and turn possession into goals if they hope to advance in the cup.

Team News

Wolfsburg face a significant midfield shortage for this game, as they will be without Aster Vranckx, Kevin Paredes, Mattias Svanberg, and Maximilian Arnold. Additionally, left-back Rogerio and forward Bartosz Bialek are sidelined, while centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw is expected to be rested.

At the back, Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, and Joakim Maehle are likely to start. Up front, Ridle Baku, Jonas Wind, and Tiago Tomas could support striker Mohamed El Amine Amoura, forming an attack-focused lineup despite their midfield limitations.

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund arrive at their DFB-Pokal clash with Wolfsburg in dire need of a turnaround following back-to-back defeats: a 2-1 Bundesliga loss to Augsburg and a 5-2 Champions League collapse against Real Madrid. The latter was particularly disheartening, as Dortmund allowed five second-half goals after establishing a 2-0 lead, highlighting their ongoing defensive issues.

Sahin initially inspired some optimism, but recent results have cast doubts on Dortmund’s stability at the back. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven games, conceding 18 goals while scoring 19. Despite an effective attack, their defensive struggles have left them vulnerable, and they now sit seventh in the Bundesliga, trailing Bayern by seven points.

Adding to their woes, Dortmund have suffered four consecutive away defeats, allowing 14 goals while scoring only five in that span. Sahin will be keen to address these vulnerabilities, as Dortmund look to avoid an early exit in the DFB-Pokal and regain momentum amid mounting pressure.

Team News

Dortmund plenty of fitness problems too. Forwards Giovanni Reyna, Karim Adeyemi, and Julien Duranville are all sidelined. Defensively, Julian Ryerson, Niklas Sule, Waldemar Anton, and Yan Couto are also unavailable.

This may lead Sahin to field a makeshift back four comprising Yannik Luhrs, Almugera Kabar, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Emre Can. In midfield, Marcel Sabitzer remains a doubt; should he miss out, Dortmund could operate with Kjell Watjen and Felix Nmecha in a double pivot.

Conclusion

Dortmund are in desperate need of victory and despite their injury problems, they’ll take the game to Wolfsburg and likely emerge with a hard-fought victory.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Olympusbet