VfL Wolfsburg will be without key defender Joakim Maehle for their 2. Bundesliga season opener. The 29-year-old is suspended for Saturday's match against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Maehle had a good pre-season and would have been a certain starter. His absence forces head coach Tobias Strobl to reshuffle his backline. Candidates to replace him at right-back include Kilian Fischer and the experienced Yannick Gerhardt. Sael Kumbedi, who was tested on the left side in a friendly against Telstar, is also an option. The lineup debate dominated fan forums on Monday, with many supporters sharing their preferred formations.
Finding a replacement for Joakim Maehle is the most pressing issue before matchday one. Kilian Fischer is an obvious candidate, but he is said to have weaknesses in build-up play. Yannick Gerhardt, meanwhile, brings a wealth of experience. A user on the Transfermarkt forum also suggested Cleiton at left-back but considered that pairing him with the young Mathys Angely would be too risky. Strobl must decide who will start alongside the established centre-backs Hauke Wahl and Mathys Angely. The club's current injury list can be viewed on our injuries page.
Fan discussions point to possible tactical tweaks. One user suspected the swapping of Maehle and Kumbedi's sides in the friendly was intentional. Against Telstar, there was no traditional right winger, so Maehle had to provide width. The more technical Kumbedi played an inverted role on the left instead. This setup could be an option against Kaiserslautern as well. Strobl must find the right balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat. The team is currently without points in the 2. Bundesliga table overview.
Maehle's forced layoff highlights a known issue: the squad lacks depth in the full-back positions. One fan wrote in the forum that they considered a permanent stay for Maehle at VfL Wolfsburg to be very unrealistic. If the Dane were to leave the club, the situation would become even more acute. Head coach Tobias Strobl's squad is listed in detail on our squad page. Beyond the immediate question for Saturday, the club must consider reinforcements in the medium term to be prepared for the long season.
The decision from coach Strobl will only be announced on matchday. The build-up to the new season is thus marred by the first personnel setback. Wolfsburg are aiming for immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga, and the absence of any key player like Maehle makes that task harder. The team's upcoming schedule is listed in our fixtures calendar.
