Wolfsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen

One of the most exciting Bundesliga match-ups this weekend pits Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen against each other at the Volkswagen Arena.

Despite hauling six more points than at this stage last season, Wolfsburg head into proceedings trapped in the bottom half of the table, albeit only four points off fourth-placed RB Leipzig. That’s merely a consolation for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl after his side failed to see out victories despite taking the lead twice in their ongoing three-game winless league run (D2, L1). A lack of consistency on home turf, highlighted by an indifferent three-game league streak (W1, D1, L1), has been Wolfsburg’s scourge this term, with ‘Die Wolfe’ lamenting a negative home record in the Bundesliga (W3, D3, L4). The upcoming clash against a Leverkusen side they’ve lost to in three consecutive top-flight H2Hs, including a 4-3 defeat in the reverse fixture this term, could deepen the crisis. 

Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen went above and beyond to beat second-tier Cologne in midweek DFB-Pokal action, hauling back a halftime deficit to emerge victorious after extra-time (3-2). However, Xabi Alonso’s charges have been remarkable in the Bundesliga, losing just once in their last 54 matches (W41, D12). Since that only loss to Leipzig in August, they’ve pieced together an incredible 18-game unbeaten league run (W12, D6). Alonso is on the verge of making history, as avoiding defeat against Wolfsburg would see him equal Udo Lattek’s record of 27 consecutive Bundesliga away games unbeaten set in 1992  (W19, D7). That’s not a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination, considering the visitors have only kept one clean sheet across their last nine Bundesliga travels!