RELEGATION BATTLE: WOLFSBURG AND HOFFENHEIM FACE OFF IN CRUCIAL BUNDESLIGA CLASH

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May 9, 2025 

VfL Wolfsburg - TSG Hoffenheim 

Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany

On Friday, May 9, 2025, VfL Wolfsburg will face TSG Hoffenheim in the 33rd round of the German Bundesliga. The clash between teams suffering from a significant drop in form during the spring part of the season will have a crucial impact on the relegation battle in Germany's top flight.

This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season. The "Wolves" from Wolfsburg have defeated Hoffenheim twice so far this season - first 3-0 at home in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 at the beginning of December and then 1-0 in Sinsheim in a league match. VfL could now win three competitive games against the same opponent in a single season for just the fourth time in professional football (previously vs. Schalke in 2020/21, Freiburg in the 2014/15 season, and Hertha BSC in 2000/01).

TSG Hoffenheim sits in 15th place, having collected only 31 points from 32 games this season. TSG has only ever claimed fewer points after 32 Bundesliga matchdays in the 2012/13 season (28). Hoffenheim has a five-point advantage over 16th place (Heidenheim: 26) - since the introduction of three points per win, only 1. FC Nürnberg in the 1998/99 season has ever blown such an advantage this late in the season.

VfL Wolfsburg has picked up just 12 points in the second half of the season - only VfL Bochum has collected fewer (11). The "Wolves" have only ever taken fewer points from their first 15 games in the second half of a top-flight campaign in the 2017/18 season (11) - they only stayed up via the relegation play-off back then.

Wolfsburg is without a win in their last eight Bundesliga games (2 draws, 6 losses) - the longest ongoing winless run in the league and their longest since an eleven-game stretch under Niko Kovac from December 2023 to March 2024.

TSG Hoffenheim has won only one of their last eight Bundesliga games (2-0 vs. Mainz, otherwise 3 draws, 4 losses), collecting just six points - only VfL Bochum (5) and VfL Wolfsburg themselves (2) have picked up fewer points since the start of matchday 25.

Wolfsburg is without a win in their last seven Bundesliga home games (4 draws, 3 losses), losing each of their last three. An eighth straight winless home game would equal their negative club record, as would a fourth consecutive home defeat. The "Wolves" were last beaten in four consecutive Bundesliga home games between October and December 2016.

Hoffenheim's 4-4 draw in Mönchengladbach saw them score three goals from corners for the first time in a Bundesliga game, having only netted once from corner-kicks across the opening 31 matchdays. VfL Wolfsburg has conceded a league-high 12 goals from corners in the 2024/25 season.

Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric recorded three assists in a single Bundesliga game for the third time in his career last time out, having last done so in August 2021 in a a 4-0 win in Augsburg. Since detailed data collection began in the 2004/05 season, only Bayern's Franck Ribéry has achieved this more often in the top flight (4 times).

Hoffenheim striker Adam Hlozek has now scored in two consecutive Bundesliga matches, something he had only previously managed in January 2025. He has now scored more goals in 25 Bundesliga games for TSG (8) than in his 52 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer 04 Leverkusen (7).

Daniel Bauer is now interim coach of VfL Wolfsburg following the departure of Ralph Hasenhüttl. Since Valérien Ismaël, none of the last eight Wolfsburg coaches have lost their first Bundesliga game in charge (4 wins, 4 draws), with four of the last five even winning on their debut.

Photo: source XYZ 

We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data.