Bundesliga: Taming the Wolves Will be Timely for BVB

Borussia Dortmund vs VfL Wolfsburg

Anything less than a win feels like a missed opportunity for Borussia Dortmund at this point, and that was the case when they were held to a draw by VfL Bochum and when Bayern Munich defeated Hertha Berlin last time out.

Trailing by one point behind Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund are raring to get back in the driver’s seat in the intensifying Bundesliga title race, and a victory over VfL Wolfsburg will surely help them a ton.

VfL Wolfsburg will give Borussia Dortmund a huge run for their money, and they are also in must-win mode. Niko Kovac’s men are currently in seventh place with 46 points, and a win here would put them past Bayer Leverkusen for sixth place.

Read on below for the SBOTOP preview of this exciting match.

Talking points

Malen enjoying his best spell at BVB

Since joining BVB in the summer of 2021, Donyell Malen has been asked to fill the considerable void left by Manchester United-bound Jadon Sancho. The transition for him was difficult, as it took him a while, but it has been worth the wait.

He has hit a purple patch of form, and it couldn’t come at a better time for Borussia Dortmund. The Dutch winger has collected seven goals this season, but five of those have come in April alone.

Malen can play either as a centre-forward or as a winger, but it seems that he is at his best when he’s playing the latter. He and Karim Adeyemi have formed a lethal partnership on the opposite flanks, with Sebastien Haller acting as their target man in the middle.

BVB are rich in attacking talent, which is a great problem to have if you’re head coach Edin Terzic. When either one of Malen, Adeyemi, or Haller is underperforming, he can call on the likes of Gio Reyna, Youssoufa Moukoko, Anthony Modeste, or Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

And with Jude Bellingham, Julian Brandt, and Marco Reus as their midfield options, BVB are regulars in the Bundesliga 2023 highlights reel.

But the backline is what’s concerning for BVB since centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck (thigh) and full-back Thomas Meunier (groin) remain sidelined. Niklas Sule and Julian Ryerson are going to be slotted into the starting XI as a result.

With four matchdays remaining, BVB must take care of business by trying to win all of their remaining games while hoping that Bayern Munich will slip up too.

VfL Wolfsburg missing key players

Even if they’ve overcome their growing pains, the odds are stacked against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday because they come into this game undermanned.

Wolves’ top centre-back Maxence Lacroix is ruled out for the rest of the campaign because of shoulder surgery, while Lukas Nmecha and Paulo Otavio join him in the treatment room.

But Micky van de Ven is set to return after serving his one-game suspension last week, so he will replace Lacroix at defence. Top scorers Yannick Gerhardt and Jonas Wind, with six goals each, will continue to lead up front for VfL Wolfsburg.

History

VfL Wolfsburg have lost eight of their last nine meetings with Borussia Dortmund (W1), and they have taken just three points from their last 15 Bundesliga matchups.

The Wolves ended their drought against BVB in their reverse fixture last November when they won 2-0 at home, thanks to goals from Micky van de Ven and Lukas Nmecha. Their previous positive result against the Yellow Wall was a goalless draw back in the 2017-18 season during matchday no. 18.

And Niko Kovac’s men are on a three-game unbeaten run with two wins and one draw.

However, Borussia Dortmund have been the Bundesliga’s best home team this season with 12 wins, one draw, and one loss. BVB haven’t lost a match at home since August 2022 against Werder Bremen.

Betting Tip

Borussia Dortmund were installed by the Bundesliga 2023 odds as the big favourites to win this Sunday clash. The hosts were priced at 1.47 to win, while VfL Wolfsburg are at 5.20, and a draw is at 4.40 in the 1X2 market.

While Borussia Dortmund have had their inconsistencies lately, they are still a superior team to that of VfL Wolfsburg, so they should be able to pick up all three points at home this weekend. Once they have a fast start, BVB are guaranteed to pick up points, and that has often been the case this past month. So, First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 at 2.03 is the best bet on offer.

 

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