Wolfsburg vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
He knew the size of the task and he knew the odds, but still there was a streak of optimism.
"They are a team just as we are," said Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking of Real Madrid ahead of his side's UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie with the Spanish giants. "You have a chance in any match. We are big underdogs in this tie, but outsiders are there to be cheeky."
The sentiment was spot on, but quickly it gave rise to obvious questions: How cheeky can Wolfsburg be? How cheeky will they need to be?
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Can they be cheeky enough to topple Real Madrid?
Twelve months ago, when Kevin De Bruyne was leading a scintillating Wolfsburg side to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga and triumph in the German Cup, the answer might have been a tentatively optimistic yes. As recently as August, Hecking's men were being discussed as potential challengers to Bayern Munich's hegemony in Germany, as the league looked for a replacement for a Borussia Dortmund outfit that, until then, had fallen away.
Now, though, things are different: De Bruyne has gone, pace and incision went with him, replacements haven't quite filled the void and Wolfsburg have fallen into mid-table. Of course, the Wolves' run to the last eight in the Champions League is historic for a club that's only competing in the competition for a second time, but getting back into it next season already looks problematic.
Also problematic for them is the form of Real Madrid.
Since they drew the German outfit last month, Madrid have seen the mood of their season shift. Immediately, their quarter-final tie looked straightforward in comparison with that of their domestic rivals in Barcelona and Atletico Madrid who drew each other, and since, Los Blancos have battered Sevilla and then overpowered Barcelona in Saturday's Clasico.
Admittedly, the victory over the Catalans has meant little for the complexion of La Liga, but that won't bother Madrid. Instead, they've come away from the clash at the Camp Nou strengthened and reinforced. Packing belief and a sense of structure and identity.
After thwarting Barcelona for an hour, Madrid exploded in the game's final stretch. In midfield, there was balance and aggression thanks to Casemiro; up front, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale led what Marca called a "raid" on the break. Madrid looked strong, fit. Lethal.
When Zinedine Zidane was asked about what he liked in the performance, his assessment was simple: "everything."
"El Clasico sends Real Madrid into sixth gear," added Marca.
"Tonight really does put us mentally in a strong position," Bale told the Guardian's Sid Lowe.
More of the same against Wolfsburg, then? Maybe, but you can't be certain.
Despite the obvious gains in organisation, unity and collective intensity Madrid will take from the Clasico, Wednesday's clash at the Volkswagen Arena will be a very different affair. As overwhelming favourites, Madrid will be expected to dictate and dominate; Wolfsburg won't come at them as Barcelona did.
As such, Wolfsburg are likely to be the ones looking to break. Max Kruse will lead them up front; Andre Schurrle will provide the thrust; the in-form Julian Draxler will look to add the stardust.
For encouragement, that trio can look to the opportunities Roma saw but threw away against Madrid in the last round. Time and again, Mohamed Salah and Edin Dzeko found cavernous holes in a Madrid setup that committed too many forward but walked away with dejection and "what ifs?" of their own doing.
Can Kruse, Schurrle and Draxler do what Salah and Dzeko couldn't and propel Wolfsburg to something cheeky?
Date: Wednesday, April 6
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. EDT/8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany
TV Info: BT Sport (UK), Fox Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport Online Player (UK), Fox Soccer 2GO (U.S.)
Form Lines
| L: 0-3 vs. Bayer Leverkusen | W: 2-1 vs. Barcelona |
| D: 1-1 vs. Darmstadt | W: 4-0 vs. Sevilla |
| L: 0-1 vs. Hoffenheim | W: 2-1 vs. Las Palmas |
| W: 1-0 vs. Gent | W: 2-0 vs. Roma |
| W: 2-1 vs Borussia Monchengladbach | W: 7-1 vs. Celta Vigo |
| W: 4-0 vs. Hannover 96 | W: 3-1 vs. Levante |
Team News
For Wolfsburg, first-choice goalkeeper Diego Benaglio is available again after making his long-awaited return from injury against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. In front of him, former Bayern Munich man Dante will be partnered by Robin Knoche given the long-term injury to Naldo, while Ricardo Rodriguez—strongly linked with Real Madrid last summer by Marca—will start at left-back.
In midfield, Luiz Gustavo should sit alongside Josuha Guilavogui in the holding pairing, while Vieirinha should round out the attacking quartet also featuring Kruse, Schurrle and Draxler in what is expected to be a 4-2-3-1.
For Real Madrid, it seems likely that Zidane will opt for the same XI that finished Saturday's Clasico in devastating fashion.
If that's the case, James Rodriguez and Isco will be forced to watch on from the bench once more in the continued presence of Casemiro, while Dani Carvajal would keep his place ahead of Danilo at right-back.
Despite seeing red at the Camp Nou, Sergio Ramos will also be present for this clash, as it's in a different competition. Raphael Varane could miss the trip after being left out of the squad on Saturday due to injury.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Wolfsburg: 19-4
Draw: 10-3
Real Madrid: 8-13
