Bochum vs. Wolfsburg: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

Latest

Bochum could use a morale-boosting win after collecting just a single point from their last three games of 2021, ending the year with a 1-0 home defeat by Union Berlin. That left Thomas Reis' side 12th in the table, above Wolfsburg on goal difference alone, and just three points above the relegation zone. The hosts can take heart from the fact that they have won the majority of points on home turf this season though (14 of 21), even if Reis will be keen for more goals: only bottom clubs Fürth and Bielefeld have scored fewer than Bochum's 16 so far. First-choice attackers Asano, Sebastian Polter and Gerrit Holtmann are all set to start in a bid to remedy that - while Jürgen Locadia has also been signed from Brighton & Hove Albion - but they will be forced to reshuffle half of their backline, with both Erhan Masovic and Konstantinos Stafylidis unavailable.

New Wolfsburg head coach Florian Kohfeldt was keen to "press the reset button" over the winter break, and boy do the Wolves need it. After bursting out of the blocks at the start of the season, the team's form trailed off to such an extent that they have lost their last seven outings in all competitions, and are winless in their last eight. The loss of Nmecha to injury is a big blow, especially as the striker has proven an efficient foil for Wout Weghorst up front. Luca Waldschmidt should therefore start in attack, while Josuha Guilavogui is expected to begin in central midfield despite suffering a nasal fracture in training during the week.

Watch: Bochum's Holtmann scored the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2021

Match stats

Only Bayer Leverkusen's Lukas Hradecky (72) and Freiburg's Mark Flekken (67) have made more saves than Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann (66) this season.

Bochum striker Sebastian Polter has scored five of his six Bundesliga goals this season in the last nine matches, although he fired blanks in his last two.

Reis's side have lost just twice at their Vonovia-Ruhrstadion home this term, to Hertha and Union Berlin.

Weghorst and Nmecha are 10th and 11th respectively in terms of overall shots taken this season, with 37 and 36 efforts on goal.

Maxence Lacroix is the 14th fastest player in the Bundesliga this term (and sixth-fastest defender) with a top speed of 21.84 mph (35.15 km/h).

The Wolves have lost their last seven in all competitions, a run not seen since the team's promotion in 1997.

Probable line-ups

Bochum: Riemann - Gamboa, Leitsch, Lampropoulos, Soares - Pantovic, Losilla (c), Rexhbecaj - Asano, Polter, Holtmann

Out: Decarli (shoulder), Masovic (suspended), Stafylidis (not included), Zoller (knee)

Doubtful: Blum (muscular)

Coach: Thomas Reis

Wolfsburg: Casteels (c) - Mbabu, Lacroix, Bornauw, Roussillon - Guilavogui, Arnold, Gerhardt - Waldschmidt, Weghorst, Steffen

Out: Ginczek (not included), Lukebakio (not included), Mehmedi (muscular), L. Nmecha (ankle), Schlager (knee), Stefaniak (groin), Otavio (knee), Vranckx (not included), William (knee)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Florian Kohfeldt