Soccer

VfL Wolfsburg Are Currently One of Europe’s Hottest Teams

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By @DFresh39

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Two of the best games in all domestic European competitions this season have featured VfL Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga. They have quickly become one of the best teams in Europe. There is plenty of time for the season to turn in the wrong direction, but the team chemistry and the individual skill of their leaders make that unlikely. Wolfsburg’s current form and expected finish make them a threat in next season’s Champions League.

Over the last six matches, Wolfsburg are tied for second-best form in all of Europe. Their only dropped points were a scoreless draw in the Europa League second leg with Sporting when they simply needed to hold onto a lead. They have taken 16 points while seven others have taken 18 from the last six. However, none of those seven or the other seven in the top 15 of best current form are in one of the top three leagues in Europe. SM Caen of French Ligue 1 have also earned 16 points in that time frame, but they sit 12th in the league. Liverpool have also earned 16 points, but they have a plus-eight goal differential as opposed to Wolfsburg’s plus-10 mark.

Wolfsburg are one of three Bundesliga teams currently riding a four-game winning streak. They are tied for second in points per home match with Juventus, Lyon, Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Chelsea, just 0.2 behind Bayern Munich, among the top five league in Europe. They are also tied for eighth in points per away match in the top five leagues in Europe. However, they are tied for second in goals per away match among those top five leagues.

Wolfsburg are second in the Bundesliga behind only Bayern Munich. When the two last met, Wolfsburg came out on top of an impressive 4-1 showing. They have opened up an impressive 10-point gap on third-place Borussia Mönchengladbach. Wolfsburg’s plus-26 goal differential is far and away the second-best rating in the domestic league.

The team also has one of the best individual players in Europe currently. Kevin De Bruyne has a rating of 8.05 according to WhoScored, which is the best of any player who has featured in all 23 Bundesliga matches. He leads the league with 15 assists, six more than his nearest competition. De Bruyne is tied with Cesc Fabregas for the most assists in all of Europe.

While the team has shown they are great together, other individuals have shined this season. Bas Dost is among the top 10 goal scorers in Europe thanks to a recent outburst. Naldo‘s WhoScored rating is a 7.8 for the season, which is the best of any central defender in Europe. He has also shown his ability to score from long-range free kicks.

Individually Wolfsburg’s important players are becoming stars, but collectively this team is one of the best in Europe. They deserve more credit for their current form and more respect as an emerging European powerhouse. They are still in the running for two championships this season, the DFB Pokal and Europa League. Winning one can solidify their place among the best across the pond.

Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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