Bundesliga: Champions League Chase Set to Hot Up

VfL Wolfsburg vs Borussia Dortmund

The race to be the best of the rest in the Bundesliga is reaching a conclusion.

With Bayern Munich requiring just one win from their remaining four league matches to retain their crown, and RB Leipzig looking good for the second spot, the central focus is now on which teams can claim third and fourth places and – with it – the lucrative carrot of Champions League football next term.

That means this clash between the sides in third and fifth has the potential for Bundesliga highlights.

Talking Points

Looking a bit further ahead, no one expects Borussia Dortmund to hold on to their prodigious talent Erling Braut Haaland this summer with clubs from all over Europe tipped to make a move.

However, they will definitely lose the Norwegian hotshot if they cannot qualify for the Champions League.

They kept their hopes alive last weekend when Haaland scored twice in four minutes as Dortmund came from behind to beat Werder Bremen and boost their chances.

However, they remain four points off a top four spot, despite also defeating Union Berlin in midweek – a match in which Jadon Sancho made his 100^th league appearance for the club and Marco Reus netted his 132^nd Bundesliga goal, putting him level 22nd with Rudi Völler in the all-time scoring charts.

Two wins out of two has certainly been a good way to bounce back from their European exit at the hands of Manchester City but they need to repeat the trick against a Wolfsburg side who pushed champions Bayern Munich all the way last weekend.

That was followed by an emphatic success at VFB Stuttgart on Wednesday night in which goals from Xaver Schlager, Wout Weghorst and Yannick Gerhardt secured a comprehensive victory.

The Wolves owe much of their success this term to a well-drilled backline. They have only been beaten once at their Volkswagen Arena home with a record of nine wins, four draws, and that sole defeat last weekend.

They have also conceded just 30 goals after as many rounds of matches, giving them the Bundesliga’s second-meanest defence behind Leipzig.

Indeed, it is not out of the question that they could overtake Leipzig and secure the runners-up spot which will provide them with extra inventive on Saturday.

Dortmund have plenty too. Defeat will almost certainly mean they miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 2015 when they finished seventh in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at the club.

For the hosts, Kevin Mbabu remains a doubt with a foot injury with Ridle Baku likely to continue to deputise at right-back. Left-back Paulo Otavio should return after a one-match suspension, as should Maxence Lacroix who was rested in midweek.

Bundesliga: VfL Wolfsburg will host Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena — VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Yannick Gerhardt celebrates with Josip Brekalo after scoring their third goal against VfB Stuttgart

Dortmund have suffered a blow with experienced centre back Mats Hummels ruled out after he collected his fifth booking of the season against Union Berlin on Wednesday.

With Dan-Axel Zagadou missing for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, Emre Can could be forced to drop back into defence once more, with Mahmoud Dahoud and Thomas Delaney potentially coming in to bolster the midfield alongside youngster Jude Bellingham.

Wolfsburg are on course for their highest Bundesliga finish since 2015 when they were runners-up behind Bayern. That was also the last time they qualified for the Champions League. A win on Saturday and they will be very close again.

History

Not since 2015 – in both the Bundesliga and the German Cup – have Wolfsburg enjoyed victory against Dortmund.

Indeed, the Yellow Wall have been utterly dominant, unbeaten in 11 straight matches against Die Wolfe, winning 10 times and drawing once.

Forty-nine games have been played between these two sides, Dortmund winning 29, Wolfsburg 10 and the remaining 10 fixtures ending all square.

That includes a 2-0 win earlier this season when Manuel Akanji and Jadon Sancho were the marksmen.

They won by the same scoreline in the corresponding fixture last year when Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi were on target.

Betting Tip

	VfL Wolfsburg vs Borussia Dortmund	1X2 Draw @ 3.45
	April 24, 21:30 (GMT+8)

Dortmund have the edge with the SBOTOP Bundesliga betting odds.

They are tipped to win 1X2 @ 2.26 and with Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 1.96.

Wolfsburg are available at an attractive 1X2 @ 2.96 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 1.97.

Goals are clearly expected given over 2.75 of them will only pay out @ 1.87.

If Wolfsburg win, they really can put some daylight between themselves and Dortmund and make it very difficult for them to return to Europe’s top table next season.

I am actually going to plump for level pegging in this one with a 1X2 Draw @ 3.45 my ** prediction.