Wolfsburg vs. Bochum preview: Both sides in need of a win
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg boss Ralph Hasenhüttl began his tenure with a 2-0 win in last month’s away clash with Werder Bremen. However, Hasenhüttl has been unable to build upon his positive start, having seen his side fall to consecutive defeats. They lost 3-1 in their home meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach, before they fell to a heavy 3-0 defeat against RB Leipzig last weekend.
Having lost five of their last six matches, Wolfsburg are languishing in 14th position with just two points separating them from the bottom three. After losing at the Red Bull Arena last weekend, die Wölfe are now set to return to the Volkswagen Arena, where they are winless in eight home league games. As a result, they are searching for their first Bundesliga home win since beating Leipzig 2-1 in November.
They have at least managed to win each of their last four home matches against Bochum, including a 4-0 victory in last season’s meeting on home turf.
Team News
Wolfsburg are expected to be without Koen Casteels, Lukas Nmecha and Rogério due to injury. Patrick Wimmer is a doubt because of illness, while Moritz Jenz is set to serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Bochum
Bochum are currently without a permanent manager after Heiko Butscher was placed in interim charge following the dismissal of Thomas Letsch earlier this month. Butscher began his interim tenure with a draw in last Saturday’s home meeting with Heidenheim. Keven Schlotterbeck scored a 90th-minute equaliser to make amends for his 81st-minute own goal.
Despite salvaging a point, Bochum are still hovering above the drop zone ahead of matchday 30. They are currently just one point clear of 16th-placed Mainz after failing to win any of their previous seven matches.
They have also gone eight away league games without a win since beating Darmstadt in November. Die Unabsteigbaren will be hoping to change that statistic this weekend as they look to complete a league double over Wolfsburg following a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
Team News
The visitors are unable to call upon Moritz-Broni Kwarteng, Niclas Thiede, Danilo Soares, Mohammed Tolba and Michael Esser.