Nuremberg vs Wolfsburg: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

Wolfsburg welcome back influential defender John Brooks from suspension for their trip to Nuremberg on Friday (kick-off: 8.30pm CET/ 7.30pm GMT/ 2.30pm ET).

Latest

Brooks’ return is unlikely to be so well received by a Nuremberg side without a win in their last eight Bundesliga matches. Der Club were not given a prayer at Bayern Munich last Saturday, succumbing to a decidedly one-sided 3-0 defeat that leaves them perched above the relegation play-off spot on goal difference, only a point outside the automatic drop zone. Michael Köllner’s side have shipped a league-high 33 goals in 14 matches this term, although they will take some solace from the fact that nine of their 11 points have come on home soil - including wins over Hannover and Fortuna Düsseldorf. Personnel-wise, Fabian Bredlow will continue to deputise for injured first-choice goalkeeper Christian Mathenia. Captain Hanno Behrens is touch and go, after missing the Bayern game with an abdominal strain.

Wolfsburg have injury troubles of their own after Admir Mehmedi picked up a knock in the 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim. Midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj is also a doubt, but Bruno Labbadia is able to call on Brooks and right-back William after the pair served mandatory one-match bans last time out. Paul Verhaegh and Felix Uduokhai are expected to make way, while Josip Brekalo is first in line to fill in for Mehmedi, should the Switzerland forward miss out. As well as extending their unbeaten run to three matches following wins over RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt, the Wolves were further boosted in the draw with Hoffenheim by the return of captain Josuha Guilavogui, the Frenchman making his first appearance since damaging knee ligaments on Matchday 1. Daniel Ginczek also scored for the second game running, and is set to continue in attack alongside leading scorer Wout Weghorst.

Match stats

Only VfB Stuttgart have scored fewer goals (nine) than Nuremberg (14) this season.

There has never been a 0-0 draw in 24 meetings between these two sides.

Ginczek has contributed to each of Wolfsburg last five goals over their last three games.

Wolfsburg have won three of their six away matches so far this season (against Bayer Leverkusen, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt)

Ginczek and Weghorst (five and four goals respectively) have scored nine of Wolfsburg’s 20 goals so far this term.

Nuremberg have found the net in all but one of their seven home matches so far this season.

Probable line-ups

Nuremberg: Bredlow – Bauer, Margreitter, Mühl, Leibold – Misidjan, Behrens (c), Petrak, Rhein, Kerk - IshakOut: Lippert (knee), Mathenia (knee)Doubtful: Löwen (knee), Valentini (thigh)Coach: Michael Köllner

Wolfsburg: Casteels – William, Knoche, Brooks, Roussillon – Gerhardt, Guilavogui (c), Arnold – Mehmedi – Ginczek, WeghorstOut: Camacho (ankle), Tisserand (thigh)Doubtful: Blaszczykowski (flu), Jung (thigh), Rexhbecaj (calf)Coach: Bruno Labbadia