Wolfsburg – Werder Bremen : Preview & Prediction
Last season saw Wolfsburg record their first bottom half finish since surviving the relegation playoff in 2017/18. The chances of another relegation fight lasted too long for anyone’s liking last campaign, and a determined transfer window shows the Wolves’ attempt to get back into the places that give access to European competitions, with around €30 million being spent on new talent during a frenetic month of July.
A summer just as busy as this one last year paid dividends, as Wolfsburg began with four straight wins to lead the Bundesliga. Indeed, they are unbeaten in their last four games to start a league campaign (G3, E1), while they kept a clean sheet in their last two, giving goalkeeper Koen Casteels a reputation to uphold in this clash.
With Werder Bremen suffering just two defeats since the start of December, immediate promotion to Germany’s top flight (as runners-up in Bundesliga 2) seemed assured. Understandably, though, their transfer activity was in stark contrast to Wolfsburg’s, with several free agency signings hoping to give the visitors a dream start in Germany’s top flight.
A similar result would give Bremen their second win in three visits to Wolfsburg, as well as a first winning start to a league season in nine years. However, that looks unlikely when recalling the run of four consecutive defeats with which Bremen ended their 2020/21 Bundesliga away campaign, despite keeping three clean sheets in the first half during that poor run.
Players to watch: At a cost of €10 million, Jakub Kamiński was Wolfsburg’s most expensive signing during July. He arrived from Lech Poznan with a near-perfect record in games in which he found the back of the net in the 2021/22 season (G7, E1). If anyone can spoil his Bundesliga debut, it could be Bremen’s top scorer last season, Marvin Ducksch – he registered an assist in the DFB-Pokal in midweek, and has seen six of his last seven goals registered after the break.
Weekend stat: Wolfsburg have led at half-time by a 1-0 scoreline in their last four victories on a Bundesliga opening day.
Wolfsburg – Werder Bremen : Betting Tips
Wolfsburg – Win Odds: 2.25
