VfL Wolfsburg vs Hertha Berlin
Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin are the surprise packages of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season, and they will both look to get the better of each other in hopes of keeping their perfect record intact.
The Wolves and the Berliners are two of only three teams—the other being league-leaders Bayern Munich—to win the opening two games of the new campaign. They are tied for second with six points each and are actually on equal terms on goal difference.
Hertha have a solid history against the Wolves and will certainly look at their head-to-head record as a source of confidence. However, the Wolves have been on a tear offensively and could spell trouble, considering that their recent victories were no fluke either.
Talking Points
The season may still be young with just two games in the new German top-flight campaign, but the Bundesliga 2018 results speak volume on how impressive and surprising Wolfsburg have been in the opening weeks.
Bruno Labbadia’s charges kicked off their campaign with a bang, edging out last year’s runners-up Schalke 04 in a thrilling 2-1 affair at Volkswagen Arena. They followed it with a comprehensive 1-3 away victory at Bayer Leverkusen to make it two for two.
To put their victories into better perspective, Wolfsburg barely avoided relegation from the top-tier competition last campaign while Schalke and Bayer were both top-five teams. The Wolves finished 16th, only two points ahead of 17th-placed Hamburger SV, while the Royal Blues claimed second and Bayer fifth.
Put simply, Wolfsburg weren’t even expected to win any of their opening games of the campaign—much more score five goals after a season that saw them record the fourth worst offence in the league.
Last season surely looks behind them now and Labbadia did a great job turning things around after taking over the club on February 2018.
While the Wolves lack a big-name star to contend with other heavyweights like Bayern, Dortmund and Schalke, they make it up with a total team effort and a football that revolves around the idea “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
Four different players have scored Wolfsburg’s goals so far, with one scored via an own goal. Centre-back John Brooks and striker Daniel Ginczek were both on target against Schalke while Wout Weghorst and Renato Steffen scored their maiden Bundesliga goals in Matchday 2.
First-choice keeper Koen Casteels is also set to return for Wolfsburg after missing their last match to attend the birth of his daughter.
Hertha Berlin, on the other hand, have been sensational as well, but their wins are a little less impressive given that their first match was against newly promoted Nuremberg—a game that saw them score only one goal.
They did beat Schalke two goals to nothing though, proving that they have their defence to lean onto in crucial fixtures.
Pal Dardai, nonetheless, has some fitness concerns that he needs to address. Skipper Vedad Ibisevic and defender Maximilian Mittelstadt picked up knocks and it remains to be seen if they can recover in time for the Saturday clash.
Meanwhile, centre-back Karim Rekik is out after sustaining an adductor injury in their match with Schalke earlier this month.
Hertha’s second-leading top scorer in 2017/18 Davie Selke is set to return following his lung operation last July, but he is expected to take things slow after two months without football.
History
As mentioned, Hertha have a pretty solid record against Wolfsburg, going unbeaten in their last five meetings with the Wolves. Interestingly though, the Old Lady of Germany won just twice and drew the other three.
Both of their fixtures last season ended in a draw, with their fight at the Volkswagen Arena ending in a 3-3 stalemate after Wolfsburg led twice. Unfortunately for both sides, most of the scorers in that game are either gone, injured or a doubt.
Mario Gomez and Divock Origi scored one each for Wolfsburg in that six-goal thriller, but both players are now gone. On the other hand, Ibisevic and Rekik were on target for Berlin, but as cited earlier, the former is currently a fitness doubt while the latter is injured and out.
Betting Tip
 |
 |
VfL Wolfsburg vs Hertha Berlin | Wolfsburg 1X2 @ 2.14 |
| September 15, 21:30 (GMT+8) |
There’s no doubt this match can go either way, but I like what I have seen so far from Wolfsburg. Labbadia’s men are favourites to win the game on Bundesliga 2018 betting, with the SBOBET football odds putting them well ahead of the visiting capital club.
The Wolves are well-organized and are playing with more hunger, something that fans haven’t seen since the club’s 2015 runners-up finish.
Sure enough, it’s unlikely their bright start will last for long. Nevertheless, the way they are playing right now should help them overcome a Hertha side that is expected to have a hard time due to their injury woes.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
|
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
