Finally, football in one of Europe’s top leagues was back and all eyes were on the Bundesliga. Both Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg were able to pick up vital wins on the first weekend back.
Dortmund’s 4-0 win over local rivals FC Schalke 04 was the most impressive performance from last weekend. Lucien Favre’s men had all but won the game at half time courtesy of goals from Håland and Guerreiro.
Two more goals quickly followed in the second half to ensure an easy derby victory for BVB.
VfL Wolfsburg needed a 90+1 minute winner from Ginczek to take all three points away at Augsburg. Oliver Glasner’s men were lucky not to see themselves go 2-1 behind as VAR came to the away sides rescue.
The stats do suggest Die Wölfe made it hard for themselves. Finding themselves dominating the match with 17 shots compared to Augsburg’s eight and having 58% of the possession.
The last time these two sides met was back on November 2nd at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park. The game saw the home side cruise to an easy 3-0 victory.
This reverse fixture may prove to be a stiffer test for Dortmund as VfL Wolfburg are unbeaten in their last 7 Bundesliga games.
In that time VfL Wolfburg have found the net 16 times.
Recent results between these two sides have to make the away side strong favourites with Dortmund unbeaten in the league against VfL Wolfburg since 2015. Scoring goals has been a problem aswell with VfL Wolfburg not scoring in their last six games against BVB.
Both sides will be happy to welcome back some of their big-name players.
The home side will have top goal scorer Wout Weghorst back from suspension and will be hoping he can add to his 11 league goals so far this season.
Dortmund fans will have been happy to see Jadon Sancho come on from the bench in the 79th minute on his comeback from injury. The minutes on the pitch and the extra week another week of training should see Sancho return to the starting 11. January signing Emre Can should also be fit enough to fight for a starting place.
VfL Wolfburg team prediction: Casteels; Mbabu, Knoche, Brooks, Otavio; Schlager, Arnold; Steffen, Mehmedi, Brekalo; Weghorst
Dortmund team prediction: Burki; Piszczek, Hummels, Akanji; Hakimi, Can, Brandt, Guerreiro; Sancho, Haaland, Hazar