Struggling Wolfsburg will aim to keep a dangerous Bayer Leverkusen side at bay on Saturday afternoon.

A stark contrast in form sets the stage for Saturday afternoon’s clash at the Volkswagen Arena, where a struggling Wolfsburg side hosts an increasingly dangerous Bayer Leverkusen. While the Wolves are desperate to stop their alarming downward spiral, especially on home turf, Die Werkself arrive buoyed by a surge in confidence and eyeing a potential leap up the Bundesliga table.

The international break brought sweeping changes at Wolfsburg, with both manager Paul Simonis and sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz relieved of their duties. The decision was more a matter of when than if, given the club’s dismal trajectory. Just one win in their last ten matches has dragged the team dangerously close to the relegation zone, sitting only one point above the bottom three.

Arguably even more troubling is Wolfsburg’s form at home: the Wolves have not won a single match at the Volkswagen Arena since January, a statistic that underlines the fragility and tension surrounding the club. Their recent run includes seven defeats in their last eight matches across all competitions, as well as a humiliating DFB-Pokal exit at the hands of Holstein Kiel, a mid-table second-tier side.

With the club in freefall, Daniel Bauer, head coach of the U-19 squad, has been entrusted with the first team on an interim basis. His primary task? To bring calm, structure, and belief back to a side that seems to crumble at the first sign of adversity. Whether he can inspire a reaction against one of the Bundesliga’s most formidable teams remains to be seen.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Bayer Leverkusen continue to grow in both confidence and cohesion under Kasper Hjulmand, who took charge in the summer as the successor to Erik ten Hag. Although the early weeks of the season featured a few setbacks — none more dramatic than the 7-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain — Leverkusen have stabilised impressively.

Die Werkself entered the international break riding a surge of momentum. They delivered a composed 1-0 away victory over Benfica in the Champions League, followed by a ruthless 6-0 demolition of Heidenheim in the Bundesliga. Both performances showcased a side that is sharpening its attacking fluency while maintaining defensive organisation.

Depending on this weekend’s results elsewhere, Leverkusen could rise to second place with a win. Such a climb would reflect their continued ascent under Hjulmand, and it would further assert them as one of Bayern Munich’s closest challengers this season. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

VfL Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg approach this crucial fixture with several significant absences that complicate interim coach Daniel Bauer’s task. The club confirmed that Moritz Jenz will be sidelined for several weeks after sustaining a muscle injury shortly before the international break. His absence is another blow to a defence already stretched thin.

The injury list extends further, with Kevin Paredes ruled out due to a foot problem, Rogerio recovering from a muscular issue, Joakim Mæhle unavailable with a shoulder injury, and young winger Adam Daghim nursing a back concern. None of the quartet are expected to feature, limiting Bauer’s options for both rotation and tactical variation. Fortunately, Wolfsburg have no suspensions to contend with ahead of the weekend.

Amid the gloom, there is at least one positive development: Denis Vavro has returned to full training after his own spell out of action. The centre-back could be available for selection against Bayer Leverkusen, offering some much-needed reinforcement in a back line dealing with stability and personnel issues.

With the team in desperate need of structure and confidence, Bauer is expected to adopt a pragmatic approach, emphasising compactness, discipline, and transitional opportunities. The likely setup is a 4-2-3-1, designed to provide defensive cover while allowing creativity further up the pitch through players like Mattias Svanberg and Gustav Eriksen.

Kamil Grabara will start in goal, providing presence and distribution from the back. The defensive line should feature Saël Kumbedi at right-back, Denis Vavro partnering Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence, and Noah Zehnter occupying the left-back role.

In midfield, Maximilian Arnold will anchor the team alongside João Victor Vinícius, forming the double pivot responsible for screening the defence and initiating Wolfsburg’s build-up play.

Ahead of them, the attacking midfield trio is expected to include Andreas Skov Olsen on the right, Gustav Eriksen centrally as the playmaker, and Mattias Svanberg drifting in from the left. Leading the line, Jonas Wind is set to continue as the lone striker, tasked with holding up play, linking attacks, and exploiting any spaces behind Leverkusen’s high defensive line.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Grabara; Kumbedi, Vavro, Koulierakis, Zehnter; Arnold, Vinicius; Skov Olsen, Eriksen, Svanberg; Wind

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen arrive at the Volkswagen Arena with a handful of important absentees that Kasper Hjulmand must navigate carefully. The midfield remains the most affected area, with Exequiel Palacios still sidelined due to a persistent groin injury that has kept him out of action for several weeks. His absence continues to deprive Leverkusen of one of their most tactically intelligent and technically secure midfielders.

Adding to their concerns, Ezequiel Fernández also remains unavailable as he recovers from a knee injury, leaving Leverkusen short of depth and ball-winning ability in central areas. In defence, Lucas Vázquez is battling a muscle issue and will not be part of the matchday squad, forcing Hjulmand to continue relying on alternative options in his back three. Fortunately, Die Werkself have no suspension issues, meaning the rest of the squad is fully available.

Despite these setbacks, Leverkusen have shown strong adaptability in recent weeks, with several squad players stepping up to maintain rhythm and fluidity. Hjulmand is expected to once again use his preferred 3-4-2-1 structure, a shape that maximises defensive balance while freeing his attacking midfielders to roam intelligently between the lines. With Leverkusen’s form surging, the tactical emphasis will be on controlling possession, stretching Wolfsburg defensively, and exploiting their opponents’ current fragility, particularly in wide areas.

Mark Flekken will start in goal, anchoring a back three made up of Jarell Quansah on the right side, Bade centrally, and Edmond Tapsoba on the left of the trio. In midfield, Arthur is expected to operate at right wing-back, with Belocian Noah Maza on the left, providing width and energy. The central pairing will likely include Alejandro García and Belocian in the double pivot, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking phases of play.

Further forward, Jonas Hofmann and Ibrahim Poku will play as the dual attacking midfielders, drifting between the lines to create overloads and pull Wolfsburg’s defensive structure apart. Leading the attack, Patrik Schick is set to start up front, offering goal threat, hold-up play, and movement that complements the fluidity behind him.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Quansah, Bade, Tapsoba; Arthur, Maza, Garcia, Belocian; Hofmann, Poku; Schick

Key Stats

• Wolfsburg have not won a home match since january, enduring a winless run at the Volkswagen Arena spanning more than 10 months across all competitions.
• Die Werkself have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, scoring seven goals in their 6–0 win over heidenheim alone before the international break.
• Wolfsburg have lost seven of their last eight games across all competitions, conceding 22 goals in that period — an average of 2.75 per match.
• Leverkusen enter the match with one of the bundesliga’s strongest attacks, boasting the third-highest goal tally in the league so far this season.
• Wolfsburg have failed to beat bayer leverkusen in their last five bundesliga meetings, with Leverkusen winning three of those encounters and scoring at least twice in four of them.

Player to Watch

Patrick Schick

Embed from Getty Images

All eyes will be on Patrik Schick, who has quietly re-established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most dangerous forwards. After battling injuries over the past two seasons, the Czech international is finally regaining his sharpness, rhythm, and authority in the final third and Bayer Leverkusen are reaping the benefits.

Schick’s profile fits perfectly within Kasper Hjulmand’s fluid 3-4-2-1 system. His ability to hold up play, link with the attacking midfielders, and drop into pockets makes him far more than a traditional penalty-box striker. When he does drift into the box, however, his movement is intelligent and decisive, allowing him to attack crosses, exploit defensive lapses, and finish with clinical precision.

Against a Wolfsburg defence ravaged by injuries and confidence issues, Schick’s presence becomes even more significant. His physicality can trouble centre-backs, his aerial dominance can unsettle set-piece situations, and his creativity, often overlooked, can draw defenders out of position for players like Jonas Hofmann and Ibrahim Poku to exploit.

If Leverkusen are to maintain their upward momentum and push into the top two, Patrik Schick’s influence in the final third will be central, making him the standout player to watch in this matchup.

Prediction

Wolfsburg 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen

Wolfsburg enter this match in a state of crisis, winless at home since January and burdened by a long injury list. The sacking of Paul Simonis and the arrival of interim boss Daniel Bauer may inject some energy, but the issues run deeper: confidence is low, defensive chemistry is fragile, and results have spiraled sharply downward.

Bayer Leverkusen, by contrast, are trending in the opposite direction. Kasper Hjulmand has restored their identity, tightened their structure, and sharpened their attack. With recent victories over Benfica and a 6–0 demolition of Heidenheim, Die Werkself look cohesive, composed, and dangerous, even with several key midfielders missing.

Wolfsburg may show more fight than in recent weeks, especially under new leadership, but their defensive vulnerabilities and lack of attacking consistency could be exposed quickly by Leverkusen’s movement and tempo in the final third. Patrik Schick’s presence alone will give the struggling Wolves plenty to worry about.