Bochum vs Holstein Kiel preview: Early six-pointer
VfL Bochum
Bochum needed a relegation playoff to retain their Bundesliga status at the end of last campaign, and at the beginning of the current, Die Unabsteigbaren are continuing to struggle for results during the season's early stages.
Peter Zeidler's side currently sits 16th as match week four approaches, and much like their visitors this weekend, they are still chasing their first three points to jumpstart their campaign.
Zeidler and his men need a turnaround in home form, having secured three points just once at home in their last seven fixtures in Westphalia. Four of the last seven have also resulted in losses.
The hope will be that the side can turn the tide against new boys Kiel despite failing to score last time out at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Team News
There are no fresh injury concerns for the hosts. However, Bernardo and Ivan Ordets remain sidelined, keeping Peter Zeidler's defensive options thin.
Holstein Kiel
The visitors got a horrible taste of what top-division life could be like last weekend, coming out on the wrong side of a 6-1 thrashing by Bayern München.
Unlike Bochum, Marcel Rapp's side managed to enter the next round of the DFB Pokal and have scored two more than their hosts after the first three matchweeks.
The Bundesliga newcomers carry the hopes of putting last week's eye-opening defeat behind them as they search for three points in what could become a crucial encounter just four games into the season.
Team News
With last term's top marksman Steven Skrzybski missing through a calf injury, the visitors will turn to Benedikt Pitchler and Lewis Holtby in the final third after the veteran Holtby made a surprising costly mistake against the record champions last weekend.
Andu Yobel Kelati, Colin Noah Kleine-Bekel and Alexander Bernhardsson are all doubts for this weekend.
