Wolfsburg vs FC Koln | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 13th September 2025

Volkswagen Arena gets its first proper pulse-check of the new campaign as Wolfsburg welcome a buoyant Köln. The Wolves have been competitive in every outing but are still knitting together new pieces, while the Billy Goats roll in with three wins from three and tails up.

Tactical snapshot: Expect Wolfsburg in a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 blend — two holders for balance, width from Joakim Mæhle/Rogério and license for the creators (Lovro Majer, Patrick Wimmer or Jesper Lindstrøm) to feed Jonas Wind or Mohamed Amoura. Köln are more 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 out of possession: compact, hard running, quick to spring wide men Linton Maina/Jan Thielmann and attack crosses. Set-plays should matter; both sides carry good delivery.

Wolfsburg

Out: Denis Vavro (adductor). Doubts: Rogério (muscle), Kevin Paredes (ankle). Likely shape: Grabara behind a back four of Mæhle — Jenz — Koulierakis — Rogério/Kilian Fischer; Vini Souza with Mattias Svanberg or Maximilian Arnold for control; Majer/Wimmer working pockets off the flank with Wind leading the line. New arrival Christian Eriksen offers craft from the bench if minutes are managed.

Köln

Out: Luca Kilian (ACL), Ragnar Ache (hip). Doubts: Timo Hübers (knock), Florian Kainz (ankle), Linton Maina (knee). Likely shape: Schwäbe in goal; Hübers/van den Berg if fit with Özkacar at left centre-back; Castro-Montes or Gazibegovic at right-back; Martel with Tom Krauß in midfield, Florian Kainz the creative hub if passed fit; Thielmann/Waldschmidt support Bülter up top.

Wolfsburg (last 10, all comps): 5–3–2. Goals: 17 for, 12 against (~1.7 scored / ~1.2 conceded). Clean sheets have been rarer, but they’re rarely outplayed and tend to finish strong — more goals after the interval than before.

Köln (last 10, all comps): 6–2–2. Goals: 21 for, 13 against (~2.1 scored / ~1.3 conceded). Their new season has started with purpose and a bit more punch in the final third, though they will give you chances if rushed in transition.

Trendlines: Wolfsburg’s under-2.5 tilt (two of three this term) contrasts with Köln’s more open games; first contact on crosses and second-ball management could be decisive.

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Wolfsburg at home: generally tidy and assertive, happy to build through Arnold/Svanberg and push full-backs high. Recent home ledger shows more control than chaos, with a knack for scoring first.

Köln away: brave press in zones, willing runners down the sides and plenty of bodies in the box. Their away matches often swing on how well they defend the wide areas and the first pass after regains.

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Wolfsburg – Jonas Wind: movement across the line and first-time finishes. With Majer/Wimmer supplying, he’s the natural finisher to tilt tight matches.

Köln – Florian Kainz: if fit, the delivery and set-piece quality that turns pressure into goals. If not, Jan Thielmann becomes the key runner attacking the space behind full-backs.

Wolfsburg 1–1 Köln. The Wolves’ structure and ball security should curb Köln’s early surge, but the visitors have enough sharpness on the break to land a punch. Levels, with set-plays a shared threat.

Main pick: Draw. Stylistic push-and-pull and similar defensive numbers point towards honours even.