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

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After overseeing his side's 1-0 DFB Cup second-round victory against third-tier Elversberg during the week, Bochum coach Thomas Letsch said that, "Every game we win gives us self-confidence." The basement side's triumph was thus more than welcome after their last outing in the top tier resulted in a 4-1 reverse against fellow strugglers Stuttgart. With just one victory on the board in the Bundesliga this term [against Eintracht Frankfurt], Letsch must now turn his players' focus into garnering a result against leaders Union. Full-back Kostas Stafylidis is in line for a return having been out with an illness but midfielder Jacek Goralski is expected to miss out with muscular problems. Simon Zoller, who was injured in the loss against Stuttgart, may struggle to recover in time. Takuma Asano, Lys Mousset and goalkeeper Michael Esser, meanwhile, continue with their respective recoveries. "Every positive result is massively important for us because we're in a very difficult situation," Anthony Losilla said after scoring his team's winning goal in the Cup on Tuesday night.

Union's main injury concern surrounds striker Jordan, who missed out on the Berliners' 2-0, midweek Pokal victory against Heidenheim that sent Urs Fischer's side cruising into the Round of 16. The in-form forward - who has three goals and three assists in the Bundesliga this season - has been carrying a slight thigh knock but is expected to return to attacking duties alongside the prolific Becker for the visit to the Vonovia-Ruhrstadion. After last weekend's impressive 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund - The Irons' seventh Bundesliga victory this season - Union go into Matchday 11 safe in the knowledge that, thanks to a four-point cushion at the top of the standings, they will remain at the league summit no matter what happens this weekend. Fischer could afford to give the previously ever-present Rani Khedira a rest during the week but the 28-year-old will be back to make an 11th Bundesliga appearance in the Union engine room against Bochum.

Match stats

Zoller has scored three of Bochum's league-low nine team goals in 2022/23.

Bochum have occupied last place for eight consecutive matchdays. Union have topped the table for five.

It's almost six years since the bottom side beat the league leaders: Ingolstadt 1-0 RB Leipzig (10 December 2016).

All but one of Jordan's three goals and three assists in the Bundesliga have fallen on home soil.

The leaders have the best defence (six goals against), and have conceded the fewest clear-cut chances (five, with the next best number in that regard being nine). Bochum are at the other end of the spectrum (27 goals against and 35 big chances conceded).

Union have gone behind just once this season; Bochum eight times.

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Probable teams

Bochum: Riemann - Gamboa, Ordets, Heintz, Soares - Losilla (c), Stöger - Zoller, Förster, Holtmann - Hofmann

Out: Asano (knee), Esser (muscular), Grave (shoulder)

Doubtful: Goralski (muscular), Mousset (fitness), Stafylidis (not included)

Coach: Thomas Letsch

Union: Ronnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Haraguchi, Khedira, Haberer, Gießelmann - Becker, Jordan

Out: -

Doubtful: Möhwald (fitness)

Coach: Urs Fischer

About the clubs VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei

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