Bochum vs. Hertha Berlin: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Asano combined with fellow Bundesliga-based Japan international Ritsu Doan as the Samurai Blue beat Germany in the World Cup group stage. And how Bochum could do with some goals from him now. A knee issue has restricted the 28-year-old to just six league outings (and no goals) so far this season, but he's fit and raring to go now. The Ruhr club kick off 2023 just a point from safety in 17th after an encouraging end to last year that saw three straight home wins and their first positive result on the road, a 1-0 victory at Augsburg last time out. Cristian Gamboa has been ruled out with a knee injury, while Dominique Heintz has been struggling with a back problem, but Keven Schlotterbeck has joined on loan from Freiburg to bolster options at centre-back and could start for his debut here as Bochum look to make home advantage count once again and get out of the danger zone.

Hertha also ended 2022 on a positive note with a 2-0 win over Cologne - just their third victory of the season. The Berliners spent part of the winter break in Florida preparing for the remainder of the campaign that resumes with them only outside the bottom three on goal difference ahead of VfB Stuttgart. Victory for the Old Lady will therefore open up a cushion over Bochum in the automatic drop zone, but defeat will see them leapfrogged and potentially slide into the bottom two as well if Stuttgart also get a result against Mainz. Coach Sandro Schwarz lost winger Chidera Ejuke to a knee injury in Florida, while Davie Selke has left for Cologne and top scorer Dodi Lukebakio is suspended for this game. The signing of Florian Niederlechner from Augsburg has been brought forward after originally being planned for the summer, but he'll miss the first few games of 2023 due to a thigh injury. Stevan Jovetic is likely to lead the line, with Marco Richter and Jean-Paul Boetius - both back after surgery to remove testicular tumours in 2022 - in support.

Match stats

Asano posted career-best Bundesliga numbers last season, with three goals and four assists. He last contributed to a Bundesliga goal on the final day of 2021/22.

Christopher Antwi-Adjei has scored as many goals in his past two games (two) as he did in his previous 67 Bundesliga outings. At Bochum, only Philipp Hofmann (four) and Simon Zoller (three) have more this term.

Bochum have conceded the most penalties after 15 rounds of matches in Bundesliga history (10).

Suat Serdar and Richter (3 goals) are Hertha's top scorers after Lukebakio.

Hertha have lost just once against Bochum in the past 20 years (W10, D8), that defeat coming away in August 2009 (1-0).

The Old Lady have conceded six goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season, costing them eight points.

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Probable teams

Bochum: Riemann - Janko, Ordets, Schlotterbeck, Soares - Stöger, Losilla (c), Förster - Asano, Hofmann, Antwi-Adjei

Out: Esser (knock), Gamboa (knee), Grave (shoulder)

Doubtful: Heintz (back)

Coach: Thomas Letsch

Hertha: Christensen - Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Mittelstädt - Tousart (c), Serdar - Richter, Boetius, Kanga - Jovetic

Out: Ejuke (knee), Jarstein (not considered), Lukebakio (suspended), Niederlechner (thigh), Nsona (knee)

Doubtful: Plattenhardt (flu)

Coach: Sandro Schwarz

About the clubs VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

Hertha Berlin

Olympiastadion

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