Bochum vs. Wolfsburg preview: Hosts targeting first home victory
Bochum will attempt to claim their first home league win of the season when they play host to Wolfsburg on Saturday.
| Photo: VfL Bochum |
Bochum
Having picked up 10 points from 12 points, Bochum head into the weekend in 14th place with a two-point buffer to the bottom three. Although Thomas Letsch’s side are unbeaten in four matches, they have had to settle for draws in three of those fixtures.
After giving up a lead on two occasions to draw with Mainz, die Unabsteigbaren edged out Darmstadt to claim their first victory of the season. They went on to draw 1-1 with Köln, before they played out a goalless affair in last weekend’s away meeting with Heidenheim.
They will now return to Vonovia Ruhrstadion, where they have drawn four of their five league matches (L1). As a result, Bochum are the only Bundesliga side yet to record a home victory in the 2023-24 campaign. The hosts are also one of five sides without a home clean sheet in the top flight this season.
Team News
Danilo Soares, Matus Bero, Michael Esser and Mohammed Tolba are ruled out with knee injuries. Bochum are also without the services of Tim Oermann, Ivan Ordets, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Lys Mousset.
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg will be in a buoyant mood after they beat RB Leipzig last Saturday to end a five-game winless league run. Jonas Wind scored his ninth league goal of the season to give Wolfsburg a half-time lead, before his compatriot Yussuf Poulsen restored parity. Niko Kovac’s side moved back in front in the 66th minute when Rogério scored what proved to be the decisive goal.
After claiming their fifth league win of the season, die Wölfe are sitting in eighth place with four points separating them from the top six. If they are to have European aspirations, Wolfsburg will need to improve on their travels, having lost each of their last five Bundesliga away games, conceding at least three goals in four of those matches.
While their away record may not offer too much inspiration, Wolfsburg can take confidence from the fact they completed a league double over Bochum last season. They cruised to a 4-0 home win in October 2022, before recording a dominant 5-1 victory in April’s away meeting.
Team News
Wolfsburg are unable to call upon the injured trio of Sebastiaan Bornauw, Patrick Wimmer and Lukas Nmecha.
