VfL Wolfsburg Haberleri

There have been 33 meetings in four different competitions between Wolfsburg and Bochum to date. Ahead of the next one on Saturday 5 October (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the record clearly favours the Green-and-Whites, who have lost just two of the last 10 encounters and won three of the last four – two of them in emphatic fashion. Here are more facts and figures on the fixture at the Ruhrstadion.

VfL Wolfsburg had to share the points for the first time this season, drawing 2-2 at home to last season’s runners-up VfB Stuttgart at home. Jonas Wind (20’) and Mohammed Amoura (68’) twice gave Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side the lead in front of 27,135 spectators at the Volkswagen Arena, but the visitors responded twice, with the second equaliser coming in the seventh minute of stoppage time. VfL remain in 13th place in the table for now. Their next assignment sees them travel to VfL Bochum on Saturday 5 October (kick-off 15:30 CEST) in the third away match of the season.

Mohammed Amoura’s pre-season was something of a rollercoaster ride. After scoring twice in three friendly matches, the former Union Saint-Gilloise player suffered a medial knee ligament injury at the Wolves’ summer training camp, ruling him out for the start of the current campaign. It was a setback for the Algerian international, who has set himself lofty goals for his first season in Wolfsburg. However, after playing his first 45 minutes in the Bundesliga and registering his first assist at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, the 24-year-old was named in Ralph Hasenhüttl’s starting XI for the first time at Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.

In 56 competitive matches against Stuttgart, the Wolves have lost more (26) than they’ve won (22). However, if you discount the five encounters in the DFB Cup, when the Green-and-Whites were largely playing in the lower leagues, then the head-to-head record against VfB reads considerably more favourably going into the next meeting on Saturday 28 September (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Another good thing: there’s never been a goalless draw between the teams on Wolfsburg soil. Here are more facts and figures ahead of the home game against last season’s Bundesliga runners-up:

Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg played out a true Bundesliga classic on Sunday afternoon. There were no fewer than five first-half goals at the BayArena but despite putting up a courageous fight, the Green-and-Whites ended up losing 4-3 to the German champions. VfL started brilliantly and took a fifth-minute lead courtesy of Nordi Mukiele’s own goal, only for Florian Wirtz to equalise nine minutes later. Jonathan Tah completed the turnaround on 32 minutes to put the hosts in the driving seat, but the Wolves responded through Sebastiaan Bornauw (37’) before Mattias Svanberg put them 3-2 ahead in first-half stoppage time (45+1’). The contest continued to ebb and flow after the break, with Piero Hincapie restoring parity once more four minutes into the second half. Yannick Gerhardt was dismissed with two minutes remaining, before Victor Boniface struck in the third minute of added time to earn Leverkusen a come-from-behind win and ensure VfL’s efforts went unrewarded.

Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen host VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday 22 September at 15:30 CEST. The hosts have returned to winning ways after their 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig on Matchday 2, cruising to a comfortable 4-1 victory at TSG Hoffenheim last Saturday before beating Feyenoord 4-0 in their first Champions League game of the season on Thursday. The Wolves, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in their last game.

It had been clear for quite a while that the goalkeeping reserves at the club, and the hierarchy, were going to change ahead of this season. Pavao Pervan is now down to being the number three ‘keeper for the Green-and-Whites, but is nevertheless maintaining a positive and professional approach to his situation and continuing to put the needs of the team first, as he had always done throughout six previous seasons at VfL. The 36-year-old spoke to us about how he maintains his self-confidence, and explains why he thinks that the Wolves will be able to get something out of their clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Wolves are still waiting for their first points at home this season after a brace from former player Omar Marmoush consigned them to a 2-1 defeat. Ridle Baku had cancelled out Marmoush’s 30th-minute opener (76’), but the Egyptian restored Frankfurt’s lead with a late penalty (82’). VfL visit defending German champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen next on Sunday 22 September (kick-off 15:30 CEST).

When Frankfurt visit the Volkswagen Arena this afternoon (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the statistics point towards a positive result for VfL. Against no other club have the Green-and-Whites registered more wins in the Bundesliga than Eintracht (22, same as against Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfB Stuttgart). The Wolves are also unbeaten in six games against the Eagles (W3 D3), their longest current unbeaten run against a Bundesliga team.

It has been a hectic few weeks for Konstantinos Koulierakis since signing for VfL. After the Europa League play-offs with his former club PAOK Thessaloniki, a brief introduction in Wolfsburg and two Nations League games with Greece, the defender has finally arrived at his new home. In this interview, “Kouli” talks about the first meeting with his new team-mates, his family and what immediately caught his eye in Wolfsburg.