Wolfsburg - Rubin Kazan 18 March 2010

*matches in all competitions

Wolfsburg last 5 matches:  

Wolfsburg last 3 home matches: 

Rubin last 5 matches: 

Rubin last 3 away matches: 

With the one all draw in Russia, Wolfsburg is certainly thinking of avoiding Sevilla’s faith in the Champions League and end up with a victory against Rubin Kazan.

Wolfsburg is showing an extraordinary form in all competitions, after the unfortunate first part of the season which left permanent marks especially in the Bundesliga where with only the 8th spot for now there’s little hope of claiming any places in the summer qualifications for an European tournament.

After an unbelievable string of 13 consecutive matches without victory, Wolfsburg managed to win 5 out of the last 6 played, their only interruption was suffers away to Rubin Kazan in a very close and difficult match.

With the Russian championship starting last week, current champions Rubin Kazan where quick to claim top spot with a 2-0 victory over Lokomotiv Moskva and travel to Wolfsburg with a good morale in consequence. The team will certainly report itself to CSKA and try to duplicate their performance by eliminating a favorite of the competition.

The away games have caused them quite some problems in Europe with the last 2 ending in defeat away to Inter and more surprisingly only a draw against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Although a goalless draw will see Wolfsburg advance, this risky strategy is not what we would expect from them and with all hope gone in the Bundesliga this competition remains a good opportunity to show their real force.

My tip:  Wolfsburg to win

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Wolfsburg last 5 league matches:

Wolfsburg last 3 home matches: 

Bochum last 5 league matches:

Bochum last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Wolfsburg -11, Bochum -13

Wolfsburg home table position: 12

Bochum away table position: 12

Dramatic change for Wolfsburg in terms of play and results lately in all competitions as the team seems to have left behind their poor season so far and a new chance to advance and build on their position is this match against Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Their victory over Schalke 2 weeks ago marked the end of the incredible 10 game streak without victory for Wolfsburg. The good results continued with a victory by the slightest of margins against Hannover in the domestic league but also the trashing of Villarreal in Europa League that meant the German side advanced in the next phase of the tournament.

The team is still to improve on it’s statistic as at home they have won only 4 matches and ended 2 in draws from 12 played with a negative goal ratio of 25 scored and 28 conceded revealing a real problem in defense.

The draw seems to be the proffered result for Bochum as they finished this way 4 out of the past 5 matches played in the Bundesliga and now the team is on the 13th spot of the table with a total of 27 points.

A very atypical statistic for them as the team seems to play better in away matches than at home managing 4 victories and 3 draws in 12 matches played whilst traveling and as expected a negative goal ratio with 10 scored and 16 conceded.

My pick:  Wolfsburg to win

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*matches in all competitions

Villarreal last 5 matches:  

Villarreal last 3 home matches: 

Wolfsburg last 5 matches: 

Wolfsburg last 3 away matches: 

After the round in the Champions League ended, it’s time for Europa League to begin the first knock-out round and very interesting matches like this one in witch Villarreal will welcome German champions Wolfsburg.

With neither of these teams living up to last season’s level, this competition may be their chance to shine and leave all the trouble from their respective leagues behind.

Villarreal is only on the 9th spot of the Primera Division table and facing though opposition in their quest for another European tournament spot as both Athletic Bilbao and Getafe look stronger.

The team alternates important victories with painful defeats against lower ranked opponents. Their situation in home matches is not different at all and with a modest statistic so far they don’t look strong at all. Motivation will probably be the key to this match and qualification and villarreal is used to these tournaments.

Wolfsburg is in even worst situation than their adversaries, only the 12 spot in the German Bundesliga and very far form the leading teams.

Even worst for the champions is their current form, no victories in the last 12 matches payed in all competitions, the last one dating back early November. There’s no salvation for them this season and it looks like their main objective is to stay in the middle of the domestic league table and build for the future.

One thing we should remember though, Werder Bremen was in a similar situation last year and managed to reach the final of the Uefa Cup.

My tip:  Villarreal to win

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Wolfsburg last 5 league matches: 

Wolfsburg last 3 home matches: 

Dortmund last 5 league matches: 

Dortmund last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Wolfsburg -8, Dortmund -7

Wolfsburg home table position: 10

Dortmund away table position: 9

Current Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg is struggling in the middle of
the table and have a very though match on their hand against Borussia
Dortmund.

Wolfsburg with joust one victory in the last 6 matches of the
domestic league and already a defeat this week in the Champions League
home with Manchester United, defeat that put an end to their hopes of
continuing in the competition.

Only 2 points earned by them in the last 3 matches from 2 draws with
the same score 2-2 against Werder Bremen and Freiburg. They also have a
very poor record in home matches with only 3 victories and 2 draws in 8
played.

Borussia Dortmund determined to take advantage of their adversaries
poor shape, they have won the last 2 matches played in the Bundesliga
away to Hoffenheim and thrashing Nurnberg 4-0 on home ground in the last
leg.

Their statistic for away matches is under the domination of the great
number of draws, no less than 4 in 6 played with only 2 victories to
their name and a negative goal ratio of 8 scored and 9 conceded.

My pick: Draw

Wolfsburg last 5 league matches: 

Wolfsburg last 2 home matches: 

Freiburg last 5 league matches: 

Freiburg last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Wolfsburg -8, Freiburg -13

Wolfsburg home table position: 10

Freiburg away table position: 6

Only on the 8th spot of the table with 14 legs played so far,
Wolfsburg is clearly far from expectations and the form that brought
them the title of champions last season, now facing a difficult match as
Freiburg gathered most of it’s points whilst traveling.

Only one victory against Hoffenheim for Wolfsburg in the last 5 match
of the Bundesliga and 22 points in total, 8 short of leaders Leverkusen
and 2 from a place in Europa League.

Their statistic for home matches is rather poor with only 3 victories
and one draw in 7 played as well as their goal record with 17 scored
and no less than 16 conceded.

Freiburg is a very atypical team for this competition with only 4
points gathered at home in 7 matches but no less than 12 earned away
from 4 victories.

They seem as a all or nothing team with only one match ending in draw
in all played in the Bundesliga, fact showed even by their latest 5
game in witch they won 2 and lost the rest of 3.

My pick: Wolfsburg to win

Werder last 5 league matches: 

Werder last 2 home matches: 

Wolfsburg last 5 league matches: 

Wolfsburg last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Werder -2, Wolfsburg -8

Werder home table position: 6

Wolfsburg away table position: 5

An important match in the German Bundesliga configuration at the top
of the table as Werder Bremen trails leaders Leverkusen by only one
point and last season’s champions, Wolfsburg, seem to have regained some
of their strength in the last few rounds.

Werder Bremen is in good form in the competition, with only one game
lost so far and that in the very first round of the new season at home
with Frankfurt.

Their statistics at home and away are balanced and the team is
performing well on both fronts. On the home pitch they managed to obtain
3 victories so far, ended in draws 2 matches against Hannover and
Borussia Dortmund and lost that single game of the campaign.

Wolfsburg has a slow start to the campaign with no less than 3
straight defeats in the first 5 matches played but managed to pull their
act together for the next rounds to regain some of the lost ground.

Although their record in away matches is decent the goal statistic is
poor with 8 scored and 7 conceded and further more their last match of
the competition home with 14th Nurnberg was a total disappointment as
they lost 2-3.

My pick: Werder Bremen to win