Six German teams are in the knockout games of the European Cup. All six teams won their first leg. The starting point could hardly be better. While some Bundesliga clubs have worked out a comfortable lead, things will be tight for VfL Wolfsburg this Thursday.
The Wolves are the first German club to face the second leg. The 2-1 win from the first leg last week at home against Malmö FF is deceptive and therefore extremely dangerous. Sure, a draw is enough for Lower Saxony to progress, but a 0-1 defeat would make VfL cancel the international sail.
After the 1: 2 in the first leg, the Swedes will have to come. The wolves can initially act defensively. The goal of the Germans must be to score at least one goal. If they conceded two goals, they would have at least achieved the extra time. The defensive is trump card for now, but targeted pinholes must be set.
If Oliver Glasner’s team succeeds in maybe even scoring twice, then the door is wide open for the knockout stage. If we look at the odds of the best bookmakers, then the forecast between Malmö and Wolfsburg goes in the direction of Lower Saxony’s progress.
Malmo may sound like a thankful opponent, but it will be a tough job for the wolves on Thursday. After all, Malmö has not yet lost at home in this Europa League campaign. Therefore, a tip on the progress of the home side could be worthwhile between Malmö and Wolfsburg.
On the lawn, the wolves only have to fill this role with life. The kick-off for the return leg in the sixteenth final of the Europa League between Malmö FF and VfL Wolfsburg at Swedbank Stadion will take place on February 27th, 2020 at 17:55.
Malmo:
It is certainly a disadvantage if a team is still in the winter break but is already being challenged internationally. The Swedish Allsvenskan does not start the new season until the beginning of April, which is held there in the calendar year. The team of Jon Dahl Tomasson cannot therefore have the necessary level of competition.
Nevertheless, the Swedes are anything but walking customers in this second leg. We have reported on Malmö in numerous tips for the Europa League and especially at home, the Northmen, at that time under coach Uwe Rösler, were generally an absolute bank. There was not much to get for the opponents in the Swedbank Arena this international season.
Including the qualifying rounds, Malmö has played seven home games in the Europa League, six of them won and only played against FC Copenhagen 1-1. Except for the Danes and maybe Dynamo Kiev, however, no team had the level of wolves. Nevertheless, it is not out of the question to be successful between Malmö and Wolfsburg with a tip on a home win.
The Swedes had no games at the weekend. The dress rehearsal for the second leg against Lower Saxony was therefore the first leg in Wolfsburg. The Swedes looked very good there for a long time and even took the lead 1-0 shortly after the break with a penalty from Isaac Kiese Thelin. However, the former Leverkusen equalized by own goal before VfL got the 2-1 winning goal.
The result was okay, but overall there was more for the Swedes. It is obvious for Jon Dahl Tomasson that it will be extremely difficult again for the Northern Lights in the second leg.
The coach from Malmö FF knows from his time in the Bundesliga that German teams are always very well prepared.
However, this should also apply to the Swedes, because there is no distraction from other games. Personnel looks extremely good at Malmö FF. According to reports, the Swedes will be able to compete in top form on Thursday. This means that Malmö may have the same formation as in the first leg.
Wolfsburg:
VfL Wolfsburg is full of juice and in good shape. For a long time, it looked as if there would be no international football in the Volkswagen Arena in the coming season. In the meantime, however, the wolves have climbed to seventh place in the Bundesliga table. Up to sixth place, which entitles you to participate safely in the Europa League, only two points are missing.
The wolves are in very good shape right now. However, the program has been very grateful recently. VfL has not had the absolute top teams in mind in recent weeks. Perhaps this is one reason why Oliver Glasner’s team have been undefeated for five games in a row and won four times.
Accordingly, the Lower Saxony travel to Sweden with a very broad chest. An exit would come as a surprise in the current constitution. The odds comparison of the betting providers clearly shows that the wolves basically have to get ahead. Between Malmö and Wolfsburg, the forecast is again towards a VfL victory.
This is probably also due to the convincing appearance of the Wolfsburg team last weekend. The FSV Mainz was swept out of the stadium with 4: 0. Josip Brekalo and Renato Steffen made it 2-0 before the break. Yannick Gerhardt and again Renato Steffen got the further goals for the brilliant 4-0 victory.
With the LASK, he has already felt that a 2-1 home win from the first leg does not have to be international. Nevertheless, the Wolves coach has a good feeling before this second leg, especially since his team still has a lead in their luggage.
Personnel, especially on the defensive, could look a little better. The failures of William and Ignacio Camacho are clear anyway. Apparently, the two Frenchmen Josuha Guilavogui and Jerome Roussillon will not be able to be there either. Marcel Tisserand will probably have to play as a full-back because Kevin Mbabu also has to serve a yellow card.
