In the first match after the winter break the VfL Wolfsburg host Köln on Saturday afternoon. Things didn't go very well for Wolfsburg so far, but another reorganisation of the squad should help them to find back to success. Köln are only outsiders as they arrive without several key players.
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Felix Magath, coach of the
VfL Wolfsburg, engaged twelve new players before the season started. It didn't help, Wolfsburg lie only four points ahead of a relegation position. So Magath invested another 30 million euros for eight new players in the winter break. Questionable if that will help, as the team will still need more time to find. In fact Magath himself declared that most of the new players are long term prospects for next season. At least new defenders Rodríguez and Lopes should help to stabilize the insecure defense (34 conceded goals). Even though Wolfsburg haven't played a good season so far, they were quite strong and relaible at home (5-1-2).
Big problems had the
1. FC Köln with the new system of new coach Solbakken at the beginning of the season. Things have improved since, Köln meanwhile climbed up to the 10th position. Most important for the recent success was striker Lukas Podolski who scored 14 goals. He became injured in the winter break and might not be fit for the Wolfsburg match. Also the defenders Sereno (suspended) and Jemal (Africa Cup) won't be there. Bad news, considering that Kölns' defense is the second worst in Bundesliga with 35 conceded goals anyway.
VfL Wolfsburg v 1. FC Köln Bundesliga: Round 18
Date: 21 January 2012 - 15:30 CET
Stadium: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
Referee: tba
Wolfsburg: Keeper: Benaglio
Defenders: Träsch, Madlung, Lopes, Rodríguez
Midfielders: Polak, Jiracek - Vieirinha, Hasebe, Schäfer
Forwards: Mandzukic
Coach: Magath
Injured: Hitzlsperger
Booked: -
Köln: Keeper: Rensing
Defenders: Brecko, Geromel, McKenna, Eichner
Midfielders: Lanig, Riether - Clemens, Jajalo, (Podolski), Peszko
Forwards: Novakovic
Coach: Solbakken
Injured: Chihi, (Podolski) / Jemal (Africa Cup)
Booked: Sereno
The VfL Wolfsburg is a club without a great tradition. Only since the 90's they made it into the 2. Bundesliga and further up then. Though Wolfsburg became German champion in 2009, the average of supporters never rose above 30,000. On Saturday against Köln not more than 28,000 fans can be expected.
Last meeting: 6. August 2011, Köln - Wolfsburg 0:3
Wins Wolfsburg: 10
Wins Köln: 5
Draws: 5
Recent performance (W - Win, D - Draw, L - Lose)
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Wolfsburg - W/L/D/L/W
Köln - L/D/W/D/L
Two of the worst defense lines in Bundesliga indicate several goals.
Wolfsburg have enough quality and are usually doing well at home, so should be able to win against a team from Köln that must reorganise their defense.
The best odds on
Wolfsburg to win you can find at
Sportingbet.
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