Wolfsburg vs Arminia Bielefeld preview: Two relegation-threatened sides do battle
The Volkswagen Arena will be the setting for a relegation six-pointer, with Wolfsburg and Arminia Bielefeld both desperately hoping to clinch an all-important victory.
| Frank Kramer. |
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg enter Saturday's contest bereft of confidence after losing their last three matches. Freiburg got the better of them before Bayer Leverkusen picked up a 2-0 win, but the worst of the three defeats occurred last weekend.
Die Wölfe faced fellow relegation strugglers Augsburg last weekend, knowing that a win for either side would go a long way to alleviating relegation fears. Unfortunately for Florian Kohlfedt's side, they were not only beaten, but they were dispatched with consummate ease. Iago's goal within the first minute of the contest set the tone and strikes from Florian Niederlechner and Mads Pedersen in the second half wrapped up a 3-0 victory for Augsburg.
Five points separate Saturday's hosts from the bottom three, and with Arminia Bielefeld the team currently in the relegation playoff spot, the importance of Saturday's encounter cannot be understated.
Wolfsburg took a point off Die Arminen in the reverse fixture following a 2-2 draw, but with so much at stake, the meeting at the Volkswagen Arena promises to be a more cagey affair, especially as Die Wölfe have failed to find the net in their last two matches.
Team News
The hosts are set to receive a boost with Koen Casteels expected to return between the posts after missing the last three matches through injury, while Jérôme Roussillon will also come back into the side, with illness preventing the 29-year-old from featuring last weekend.
Arminia Bielefeld
Like their opponents, Bielefeld have also struggled in recent games after collecting just one point from their last five matches.
That point was crucial though, as Die Arminen held Stuttgart to a 1-1 draw last time out to end a run of four consecutive defeats. Frank Kramer's side were bracing themselves for yet another loss, when Saša Kalajdžić scored from the spot to give Die Schwaben a half time lead, but Florian Krüger found the net in the second period to salvage a point from the contest.
Despite earning a draw against Stuttgart, Die Arminen remain in a precarious position, as they occupy the relegation playoff place, while sitting level on points with Hertha who are in the bottom two.
The main factor in Bielefeld's lowly position is their failure to consistently find the net, with Kramer's charges currently the lowest scorers in the Bundesliga, while Krüger's goal against Stuttgart ended a five-game barren run for Die Arminen. If they are to extend their two-season stay in the top-flight then, Bielefeld need to discover their goalscoring touch in the final six matches, starting with Saturday's encounter with Wolfsburg.
Team News
Die Arminen are missing Fabian Klos who underwent surgery after picking up a head injury last weekend, while Sebastian Vasiliadis is a doubt for the visitors.