Bundesliga
Bundesliga
06.11.2009 16:02:59
Edin Dzeko (r.) bagged a hattrick in the last encounter between the sides
Strikers to the fore
Hoffenheim 1899 play host to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, hoping to maintain the recent run of form which has seen them move steadily up through the rankings and into the top five.
Ralf Rangnick's men have the small matter of their highest Bundesliga defeat to date to avenge, the last meeting of these teams resulting in a 4-0 win for Wolfsburg. That was on matchday 30 of last season and the Wolves were in full flow, storming towards a debut title. All their goals came in the second half, with Edin Dzeko grabbing the first three to claim a classic hattrick and strike partner Grafite adding a fourth near the end.
Good home record
This time around 1899 have home advantage and they are unbeaten in seven Bundesliga outings at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, in a run stretching back to the end of last season. They have conceded just two goals on home turf during the current campaign, a figure matched only by league leaders Leverkusen.
Rangnick of course has nothing but respect for Saturday's opponents, saying, "They're the current champions and the only German team with a healthy chance of progressing further in the Champions League. We'll need to be at our best to take the three points."
On the personnel front, Hoffenheim will be without striker Chinedu Obasi and defender Matthias Jaissle once again, while Andreas Ibertsberger looks likely to be out until the winter break with the injury to his face. Rangnick will make a late decision as to whether Demba Ba is fit enough to return to the squad for this one.
Wolfsburg on a roll
Things are definitely on the up for Wolfsburg as well. Armin Veh's men are unbeaten in six in the league (three wins and three draws) and will take to the pitch in Sinsheim on the back of an impressive 3-0 midweek victory over Besiktas in Istanbul. In fact, the Wolves have been playing at least as well on the road this season as in their own Volkswagen Arena - a virtually impregnable fortress for them during their title-winning campaign.
The champions' defence has not always been the most solid of foundations of late, a fact to which the goals-against column (19) bears testimony. The forward department at any rate appears to have regained its scoring touch and Veh has the luxury of being able to choose if needs be between the on-form Obafemi Martins and last season's league top scorer Grafite to spearhead the attack alongside Dzeko.
Possible line-ups
Hoffenheim: Hildebrand - Beck, Simumic, Compper, Eichner - Carlos Eduardo, Vorsah, Luiz Gustavo, Salihovic - Ibisevic, Maicosuel
Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Riether, Ricardo Costa, Madlung, Schäfer - Josue - Kahlenberg, Gentner - Misimovic - Dzeko, Grafite
Good home record
This time around 1899 have home advantage and they are unbeaten in seven Bundesliga outings at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, in a run stretching back to the end of last season. They have conceded just two goals on home turf during the current campaign, a figure matched only by league leaders Leverkusen.
Rangnick of course has nothing but respect for Saturday's opponents, saying, "They're the current champions and the only German team with a healthy chance of progressing further in the Champions League. We'll need to be at our best to take the three points."
On the personnel front, Hoffenheim will be without striker Chinedu Obasi and defender Matthias Jaissle once again, while Andreas Ibertsberger looks likely to be out until the winter break with the injury to his face. Rangnick will make a late decision as to whether Demba Ba is fit enough to return to the squad for this one.
Wolfsburg on a roll
Things are definitely on the up for Wolfsburg as well. Armin Veh's men are unbeaten in six in the league (three wins and three draws) and will take to the pitch in Sinsheim on the back of an impressive 3-0 midweek victory over Besiktas in Istanbul. In fact, the Wolves have been playing at least as well on the road this season as in their own Volkswagen Arena - a virtually impregnable fortress for them during their title-winning campaign.
The champions' defence has not always been the most solid of foundations of late, a fact to which the goals-against column (19) bears testimony. The forward department at any rate appears to have regained its scoring touch and Veh has the luxury of being able to choose if needs be between the on-form Obafemi Martins and last season's league top scorer Grafite to spearhead the attack alongside Dzeko.
Possible line-ups
Hoffenheim: Hildebrand - Beck, Simumic, Compper, Eichner - Carlos Eduardo, Vorsah, Luiz Gustavo, Salihovic - Ibisevic, Maicosuel
Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Riether, Ricardo Costa, Madlung, Schäfer - Josue - Kahlenberg, Gentner - Misimovic - Dzeko, Grafite
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