Wolfsburg vs Hertha Berlin-Preview and Prediction

Wolfsburg have suffered a blow with the news that Vierinha will miss Saturday’s game, utility man Christian Trasch keeps his place at right-back after solid performances. Andre Schurrle and Nicklas Bendtner are likely to feature from the bench in the second half as the Hertha players tire allowing the coach to switch to the 4-1-4-1 formation seen against CSKA Moscow midweek.

Hertha Berlin will be without Peter Pekarik and Mitchell Weiser for their trip to Wolfsburg allowing Niklas Stark a game at right-back, with Roy Beerens likely to miss the game Salomon Kalou may fill in on the right with Vedad Ibisevic getting his first start for his new club and he will look to provide at outlet for his teammates by holding the ball up and trying to bring others into the game.

Possible Line-ups

Wolfsburg: 4-2-3-1 formation: Benaglio; Trasch, Naldo, Dante, Rodriguez; Guilavogui, Gustavo; Caligiuri, Kruse, Draxler; Dost

Hertha Berlin: 4-2-3-1 formation: Kraft; Stark, Langkamp, Lustenberger, Plattenhardt; Darida, Skjelbred, Kalou, Stocker, Haraguchi; Ibisevic

Statistics

Last 10 matches:

Wolfsburg have won 5, drawn 3 and lost 2
Hertha Berlin have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 3
Over the course of their previous 10 matches:
Wolfsburg have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
Hertha Berlin have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 1.2 goals per game
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in:
5 of Wolfsburg’s previous 10 matches
4 of Hertha Berlin’s previous 10 matches
Wolfsburg defeated Hertha 2-1 in their last Bundesliga meeting in February, with Hertha winning the return home fixture 1-0.

Prediction

Wolfsburg have had an impressive start to the season with home wins against Frankfurt and Schalke, two away draws and got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start against CSKA Moscow midweek. Naldo and Dante are developing an understanding at the back and the likes of Dost, Kruse, Draxler and Schurrle up front Wolfsburg should be too strong for Hertha Berlin.

Hertha Berlin have so far only been defeated by Dortmund this season, claiming wins over Augsburg on the opening day and then last weekend against Stuttgart. When Hertha came up against a quality frontline at Dortmund they struggled and we expect the same from this fixture with Hertha attempting to hold out for a point but ultimately succumbing to Wolfsburg’s attack.

We fully expect Wolfsburg to maintain their good form at home, going for the win. Even after Champions League midweek they did not have to travel and so should still be fresh enough to put in a dominant performance with the likes of Schurrle and Bendtner off the bench to hammer home the advantage.