Record against Bochum
Overall: 80 games. 42 wins, 20 draws, 18 defeats. 144:95 goal difference.
Bundesliga: 70 games. 36 wins, 18 draws, 16 defeats. 126:85 goal difference.
Home run
Stuttgart are unbeaten in 25 home meetings against Bochum in all competitions (W18, D7). That’s VfB’s longest run against a Bundesliga team.
Reunions
Atakan Karazor and Chris Führich played for VfL as youngsters.
Team news
Daxo Zagadou, Jamie Leweling, Luca Raimund, Deniz Undav, El Bilal and Ameen Al Dakhil will definitely miss out. Angelo Stiller and Angie Chase (muscle issues) are doubtful. Enzo Millot is available again after returning early from international duty with the France U21s with an injury.
For the visitors, it remains to be seen when Myron Boadu (hip) can return to the team. Bernardo (knee) has been back in training since last Friday, is pain-free and will travel to Stuttgart.
What the coaches say
VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “Obviously we have to look at Bochum differently now after Dieter Hecking took over from Peter Zeidler as head coach. They’re a team who showed against Leverkusen (1-1) that they are still alive and kicking. They’re certainly a different team compared to previous weeks. It’ll be important to focus on our own game plan.”
VfL head coach Dieter Hecking: “VfB’s performances have been consistently decent but they’ve not been rewarded with enough points. They’re also conceding too many goals for a top team. Maybe that’s a chance for us. We want to be brave in attack and have the ball ourselves. We have to start getting results – we don’t need to hide away.”