Having posted differing results on their return to Bundesliga action, Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg resume domestic duties at the Olympiastadion Berlin on Tuesday evening.
The hosts fell to a 3-1 loss to Bochum last time out, while Niko Kovac's men ran riot in a 6-0 thumping of fellow continental chasers Freiburg.
Match preview
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Failing to pick up where they left off in the top flight after securing a 2-0 win over Koln prior to the World Cup break, Hertha Berlin's demotion woes deepened in a comprehensive defeat to Bochum on Saturday.
Sandro Schwarz's men found themselves 3-0 down before the hour mark, as Philipp Hofmann struck a brace either side of Keven Schlotterbeck's effort, but the league's worst defensive side would fail to keep the back door shut as Suat Serdar nabbed a consolation for Hertha a few minutes from time.
Amassing just 14 points from their 16 outings in the top flight so far this season, Hertha Berlin sit below the dotted line in 17th place - only above crisis club Schalke - and the gap to safety stands at one point before Augsburg meet Borussia Dortmund later on Sunday.
Schwarz's side may very well live to regret their missed opportunity at Bochum, with Union Berlin, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Monchengladbach and Dortmund all to come in their next few fixtures as they aim to improve on a paltry tally of just three wins in the entire season.
There is a silver lining for the hosts, though, as they have only failed to score in one of their last 12 Bundesliga matches - scoring twice in each of their last four at the Olympiastadion - and only Bayern Munich and Dortmund have beaten the capital club on their own patch this term.
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In stark contrast, the winning machine that is Wolfsburg continues to build a head of steam, and Kovac's side were involved in one of the two six-goal margin of victories on Saturday, serving top-four rivals Freiburg a slice of humble pie.
Jonas Wind bagged a brace alongside efforts from Luca Waldschmidt, Ridle Baku, Patrick Wimmer and Yannick Gerhardt in a crushing win for the Wolves, whose Champions League charge is gathering pace amid a five-game winning streak.
Kovac's side currently occupy sixth place in the table, although they could drop down to seventh depending on Dortmund's result against Augsburg on Sunday, but the gap to Freiburg, Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin in the top four now only stands at four points.
Wolfsburg's impressive five-game winning run has seen the visitors notch a whopping 17 goals and concede just one, and having scored at least twice in each of their last seven Bundesliga matches, Kovac's charges ought to feel confident of claiming just a fourth away victory of the campaign.
Wolfsburg were held to a goalless draw by Hertha when the two sides met in January 2022, but they secured a 2-1 win on the Olympiastadion turf last season and have lost just one of their last 10 games with the Berlin-based strugglers.
Team News
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Hertha Berlin recently concluded the signing of striker Florian Niederlechner from Augsburg, but the 32-year-old is currently nursing a muscular problem and will not make his debut for the capital side just yet.
Niederlechner's fellow striker Stevan Jovetic also remains out due to a muscular injury of his own, and he is joined in the infirmary by Chidera Ejuke (knee) and Kelian Nsona (ACL).
Serdar has certainly put his name in the hat for a start over Ivan Sunjic after netting in the loss to Bochum, while the veteran Kevin Prince-Boateng will aim to supply impetus off the bench again.
As for Wolfsburg, goalscorer Wimmer had to come off with a head injury in the thumping of Freiburg, and it would be a shock to see the 21-year-old appear on the field from the off on Tuesday - Waldschmidt can expect to deputise in his absence.
Left-back Paulo Otavio will also miss out due to an accumulation of yellow cards, which could lead to a recall for Maxence Lacroix in a wide role, while Lukas Nmecha is still out with a knee problem alongside brother Felix Nmecha, who felt pain in his thigh on Tuesday.
Josuha Guilavogui was an unused substitute on Saturday after missing team training during the week, but the midfielder is being strongly linked with an exit for Stuttgart and is unlikely to be considered for a start in Felix Nmecha's place, where Mattias Svanberg could come in instead.
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Christensen; Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Serdar, Tousart; Richter, Boetius, Maolida; Kanga
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Baku, Bornauw, Van de Ven, Lacroix; Gerhardt, Arnold, Svanberg; Waldschmidt, Wind, Kaminski
We say: Hertha Berlin 0-2 Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg boss Kovac will be forced into a couple of unwanted alterations for Tuesday's game, but the defensively-sound and clinical visitors will be expected to extend their impressive winning run here.
Hertha tend to do well on the goalscoring front at home, but Wolfsburg have tightened up at the back ten-fold over the winter period and should encounter few issues en route to another three points.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
