Wolfsburg v Karlsruhe SC match preview

The new year has been a curious one for die Wölfe as combined with a near perfect record domestically they have unceremoniously crashed out of both the UEFA Cup and the DFB Pokal. While the lineup or the stated intent have never suggested a lack of commitment outside of league play, the results speak for themselves. Since the start of the Rückrunde have stormed through the competition, winning four in a row including Hertha Berlin and HSV in successive wins after the opening week draw to Köln. With the results Felix Magath's side have climbed up the table to fourth position and only four points from the top of the table Berliners.

With this in mind, Saturday afternoon Wolfsburg welcome Karlsruhe SC to the Volkswagen Arena with a clear opportunity to maintain their string of success and maintain pressure on the top of the table. Through the recent run much, long-overdue attention has finally been paid to brilliant striker Edin Džeko and long with his fellow Bosnia and Herzegovina teammate Zvjezdan Misimović and Grafite they have formed one of the deadliest attacking groups in the Bundesliga. The arrival of Peter Pekarík from talent rich MŠK Žilina has quietly been the missing ingredient missing, albeit at the expense of Cristian Zaccardo, who is very likely headed back to Serie A in the summer. The opposition, KSC, are facing an uphill ask on Saturday and for that matter, avoiding relegation. However their coach Edmund Becker possesses a keen tactical mind and while his side is lacking in pedigree they more than make up for with tenacity, work-rate and firm discipline.

Likely the greatest indicator of this match is Wolfsburg's strength at home in which they have yet to lose yet with nine victories in ten matches and KSC's complete ineptitude when away from their robust fans as they have only once once on the road. For the match Felix Magath is without Sascha Riether whilst Maik Franz and Massimilian Porcello are absent for KSC.