Bochum vs. Stuttgart preview: Hosts looking to extend unbeaten home run
Bochum will have the opportunity to make it six Bundesliga home games without defeat when they face high-flying Stuttgart on Saturday.
Bochum
Bochum missed the chance to start the new year with a win after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Werder Bremen last weekend. Thomas Letsch’s side appeared to be heading towards all three points after Patrick Osterhage opened the scoring in the 64th minute. However, Bremen’s Niklas Stark netted a 93rd-minute equaliser to ensure the spoils were shared.
Having won three, drawn eight and lost six of their 17 league matches, Bochum currently sit in 14th place with a six-point cushion to the bottom three. They will look to extend that gap this weekend when they play host to high-flying Stuttgart.
While they will face a tough test this weekend, Bochum can draw inspiration from the fact they have avoided defeat in each of their previous five home league matches (W2, D3). They will be hoping to continue that run by claiming their first competitive win over Stuttgart since recording a 2-0 victory in the DFB-Pokal in August 2014.
Team News
Michael Esser will miss out through injury, while Cristian Gamboa is set to serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards. They are also without the services of Takuma Asano, who is currently representing Japan at the Asian Cup.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart returned from the winter break with a disappointing result in their away meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Robin Hack scored a brace inside the opening 20 minutes to put Stuttgart on the back foot at Borussia-Park. Although Josha Vagnoman pulled a goal back, Jordan restored Gladbach’s two-goal cushion in stoppage time to condemn die Schwaben to a 3-1 defeat.
While they may have lost their opening game of 2024, Stuttgart remain in third place and firmly in the hunt for Champions League football. If they are to maintain their current position, Sebastian Hoeneß’s side will need to improve upon their recent away form, having lost three of their last four road trips in the Bundesliga.
The visitors do have the chance to complete a league double over their opponents after they cruised to a 5-0 victory in the reverse fixture in August. In fact, they have won each of their last three meetings with Bochum, which will provide them with a source of inspiration ahead of Saturday’s contest.
Team News
Lilian Egloff and Nikolas Nartey are unlikely to feature due to injury, while
Hiroki Ito, Jeong Woo-yeong, Silas and Serhou Guirassy are all on international duty.