2. Bundesliga Preview: VfL Wolfsburg vs. SV Darmstadt 98
| Thomas F. Starke/Getty Images |
Florian Kohfeldt will return to Volkswagen Arena on the opening day of matchday 6 in 2. Bundesliga. The 43-year-old had an unsuccessful stint in Wolfsburg after his coaching breakthrough with Werder Bremen.
Following their push for promotion last term, Kohfeldt’s Darmstadt had a slow start this term. They had to wait until matchday 5 for a first league win of the season as Stoke City loanee Milan Smit scored a late winner against Arminia Bielefeld from the spot.
Meanwhile, Wolfsburg suffered their first defeat of the season a day later with Joel Fujita’s winner for St. Pauli a couple of minutes before the end of regular time. Those two results closed the gap between these two sides to only four points.
The two clubs met only nine times before the upcoming fixture on Friday. Darmstadt’s two wins came in front of their fans, while Wolfsburg were victorious in each of the last three encounters. Since this is the first 2. Bundesliga campaign for Wolfsburg in over three decades, it’s a first head-to-head game in this division after 1993.
Team News
There are no new injury worries in both camps. Tobias Strobel's side will welcome Robert Glatzel back in the squad after the veteran striker missed last week’s game in Hamburg. As for the visitors, summer signings Ho-Jae Lee and Smit will hope to keep their places up front after scoring against Bielefeld. Aleksander Vukotic will be back in Darmstadt’s defense after a two-game suspension.
Predicted Lineups
Wolfsburg: Zielinski; Maehle, Wahl ©, Angely, Kumbedi; Vinicius Souza; Svanberg, Damar; Bernhardsson, Reese; Glatzel
Darmstadt: Schuhen ©; Mikelbrencis, Pfeiffer, Vukotic, Petretta; Klefisch, Sickinger; Richter, Duijvestijn, Weißhaupt; Smit
