Wolfsburg v Frankfurt: semi-final preview
Friday, April 22, 2016
Article summary
"I like our chances," Nilla Fischer told UEFA.com as a Wolfsburg side without three key players host an FFC Frankfurt team with fitness concerns of their own for the semi-final first leg.
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- Holders Frankfurt visit 2013 and 2014 winners Wolfsburg
- Wolfsburg second in Germany, four points ahead of Frankfurt
- Wolfsburg top scorer Caroline Graham Hansen among their injuries
- Second leg on 1 May
- Final on 26 May in Reggio Emilia v Lyon or Paris Saint-Germain
Team news:
Wolfsburg
Injured: Julia Simic (foot), Caroline Graham Hansen (shin), Noelle Maritz (foot)
Frankfurt
Doubtful: Kerstin Garefrekes (ankle), Dzsenifer Marozsán (calf)
Competition top scorers:
Wolfsburg: Caroline Graham Hansen 3
Frankfurt: Kerstin Garefrekes 3
Semi-final records:
Wolfsburg: W2 L1
Frankfurt: W6 L1
This season's meetings:
11 October (league): Frankfurt 0-2 Wolfsburg (Kuznig 4og, Goessling 38)
20 March (league): Wolfsburg 3-1 Frankfurt (Hansen 34 79, Jakabfi 90; Marozsán 22)
They say:
Lara Dickenmann, Wolfsburg midfielder
The chances are 50-50, we know about Frankfurt's strengths and we've been competing with them on a high level in the Bundesliga too. The two matches will be fiercely contested.
Nilla Fischer, Wolfsburg defender
I am really looking forward to it, as a footballer you want to play in these prestigious matches. I think it is going to be a massive tie. Frankfurt are strong opponents and I think the form on the day will decide who advances. But I like our chances.
Matt Ross, Frankfurt coach
An all-German semi-final in the Champions League is something very special and we are looking forward to both matches against Wolfsburg. There are no secrets, both teams are fully aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the other. We can be sure of one thing: nothing will be decided by the first leg on Sunday. We will of course approach the game with the aim of winning. There are four halves of football in between us and the final, and we will try our best to ensure we have a good platform on which to build going into the second leg.
Key facts:
• Overall in 22 meetings since Wolfsburg returned to the Frauen Bundesliga in 2006, Frankfurt have won ten and the Wolves nine with three draws.
• Wolfsburg are unbeaten in their last six games against Frankfurt dating back to a November 2013 German Cup tie.
• Frankfurt are making a record eighth semi-final appearance, moving one clear of Umeå. Their tallies of six finals and four titles are already outright bests.
• In the last two rounds Frankfurt have won away but lost at home only to go through on penalties.
• On Sunday, Frankfurt triumphed 1-0 at leaders Bayern München, the Bavarians' first league loss in 40 matches. However, on Wednesday they lost 2-0 at home to Freiburg to end Frankfurt's hopes of catching Bayern. Second-placed Wolfsburg overcame Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 and won 3-1 at Essen to move four points clear of Frankfurt.
• Wolfsburg have kept up their record of reaching the semi-finals in all their European entries.
• The captain of Wolfsburg in their 2013 and 2014 victories, Nadine Kessler retired earlier this month due to injury.
• Wolfsburg's squad includes former Frankfurt player Babett Peter. Yuki Ogimi moved the other way last summer while Peggy Kuznik also had a short stay at Wolfsburg.