Leipzig head into Wednesday’s DFB-Pokal quarter-final with a point to prove after a frustrating 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Heidenheim in their last outing.
Die Roten Bullen endured a nightmare start, conceding twice in the opening half-hour, but fought back through goals from Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko to salvage a draw. While the late comeback prevented an outright disaster, it did little to ease the mounting pressure on head coach Marco Rose. Leipzig have won just one of their last seven Bundesliga matches, and their stuttering form has raised concerns about their top-four ambitions.
A victory in the cup could provide a much-needed confidence boost as Rose’s side aim to take another step toward securing their third DFB-Pokal title.
Leipzig remain without long-term absentees Xaver Schlager, Antonio Nusa, Assan Ouedraogo, and Benjamin Henrichs. Yussuf Poulsen is also unavailable, while Christoph Baumgartner is a major doubt.
In goal, Maarten Vandevoordt is set to continue between the sticks, as he has in the previous two rounds, replacing veteran shot-stopper Peter Gulacsi.
Like Leipzig, Wolfsburg also approach this fixture off the back of a frustrating result. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men were held to a 1-1 draw against Bochum, marking their fourth stalemate in five Bundesliga matches. Currently sitting eighth in the table, Die Wölfe have struggled to find consistency but will take confidence from their dominant 5-1 victory over Leipzig in November.
Mohamed Amoura was the star of that encounter, netting twice, and with nine goals and eight assists to his name this season, he will once again be Wolfsburg’s primary attacking threat.
Team News
Wolfsburg face a significant injury crisis, with key players Maximilian Arnold, Kamil Grabara, Lovro Majer, Lukas Nmecha, Rogerio, Kevin Paredes, Mathys Angely, and Bartosz Bialek all ruled out.
With both teams desperate for a morale-boosting win, this quarter-final clash promises to be a fiercely contested battle.
