VfL Bochum vs. FC Köln preview: Will the hosts claim their first points?
VfL Bochum will attempt to clinch their first points of the Bundesliga season when they face an FC Köln side who are aiming to maintain their unbeaten away record in the league this term.
VfL Bochum
Bochum are the only side still without a Bundesliga point to their name this season after losing all of their opening seven matches.
While they have conceded 18 goals so far this term, they have also struggled in the final third, scoring on just four occasions.
The bottom-placed side managed to end a run of three consecutive games without scoring against Schalke last weekend when Philipp Hofmann cancelled out Dominick Drexler's opener. However, an Erhan Mašović own goal and a stoppage-time strike from Sebastian Polter condemned Bochum to a 3-1 defeat, which resulted in the sacking of Thomas Reis.
Bochum are undergoing their search for Reis' successor, but in the meantime, Under 19 coach Heiko Butscher has the difficult task of overseeing first-team affairs for Sunday's encounter. Butscher will hope he can mastermind a positive result, as Bochum look to avoid becoming the first team to begin a Bundesliga season with seven consecutive defeats.
The visitors' Bundesliga record against Köln will also be a cause for concern as Bochum are winless in their previous six top-flight meetings with Sunday's opponents.
Team News
Butscher is unable to call upon the services of a number of players due to injury issues. They will be without Lys Mousset, Takuma Asano, Jacek Goralski, Dominique Heintz, Kostas Stafylidis and Paul Grave.
FC Köln
After drawing 1-1 with Nice in their opening group game of the Europa Conference League, Köln moved onto four points with a 4-2 win over Slovacko on Thursday despite giving up a two-goal lead in the contest. A Dejan Ljubičić brace ensured the German side clinch their first victory of the group stage, but on Sunday, they will turn their attention to Bundesliga action.
Steffen Baumgart's side are looking to bounce back after they lost for the first time in the league this season when Union Berlin claimed a 1-0 victory last weekend. Despite losing in their previous Bundesliga encounter, Köln will be content with collecting nine points from their opening six games.
They are also yet to lose away from home in the Bundesliga this season, while they are unbeaten in their previous five away games in all competitions, and they will be confident of extending that run when they face a Bochum side yet to collect a point.
Although they may be favourites for Sunday's encounter, Baumgart will be warning his players against complacency as they look to secure their third league win of the season.
Team News
With Julian Chabot injured and Luca Kilian suspended for Sunday's contest, Baumgart has stated that Nikola Soldo will start in the centre of defence alongside Timo Hübers. Köln are also without the services of Sebastian Andersson, Mathias Olesen and Mark Uth.