Preview: VfL Bochum vs. FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups

Koln, meanwhile, saw their unbeaten record come to an end at home to Union Berlin last time out.

Match preview

After comfortably surviving relegation by finishing 13th in their first season back in Germany's top flight since 2009, Bochum have suffered a significant dip in their second campaign.

Six straight defeats has left them four points adrift at the bottom, meaning they are guaranteed to head into the forthcoming international break at the foot of the table regardless of how they perform against Koln on Sunday.

Their 3-1 loss away to newly-promoted Schalke 04 last time out seemed like a particularly bitter pill to swallow, given that Schalke are likely one of their main relegation rivals this season.

Moreover, Philipp Hofmann's equaliser after the break had looked likely to earn them their first point of the season, before Erhan Masovic's late own goal turned the tide in the hosts' favour.

As such, it was little surprise to see Thomas Reis relieved of his managerial duties on Monday, with Heiko Butscher installed as the club's interim head coach for the time being. The 42-year-old has been in this position twice before, and has the chance to lay down a marker for the permanent role - should he want to pursue it - by gaining a positive result ahead of the international break.

Koln, meanwhile, were beaten for the first time in the Bundesliga this season in a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to league leaders Union Berlin last weekend.

Timo Hubers's third-minute own goal made it an uphill battle for Steffen Baumgart's side, as it allowed Union Berlin to sit deep and look to hit them in behind; a tactic that they are highly proficient at given their solid defensive organisation and two pacey, talented forwards in the shape of Jordan Siebatcheu and Sheraldo Becker.

Koln continued to probe but never really came close to beating their opponent's stand-in goalkeeper Lennart Grill, with Luca Kilian's 81st-minute dismissal for a second bookable offence all but ending their chances of doing so.

However, the Billy Goats bounced back with an entertaining 4-2 win against FC Slovacko in the Europa Conference League on Thursday. Sargis Adamyan and Florian Dietz had provided their side with a two-goal lead at the break, but this was quickly pegged back after the restart as two quick-fire strikes stunned the hosts.

Dejan Ljubicic's brace ensured Baumgart's side claimed their first ever win in the competition, though, to move top of Group D in the process.

The 50-year-old will have his eyes set on inflicting a seventh straight defeat for Bochum on Sunday, which could see his side head into the international break in the top four depending on results elsewhere.

VfL Bochum Bundesliga form:

FC Koln Bundesliga form:

FC Koln form (all competitions):

Team News

Bochum will remain without Paul Grave, Dominique Heintz, Kostas Stafylidis and Jacek Goralski due to injury on Sunday.

Butscher could shake things up in what may prove to be his only match in temporary charge of the side, with Gerrit Holtmann almost certain to be recalled to the starting XI having surprisingly only appeared from the bench during the defeat to Schalke.

Takuma Asano suffered a serious injury in Gelsenkirchen and will drop out of the team as a result.

Koln, meanwhile, will travel without Kilian, who will serve a one-match suspension after his red card last weekend. Nikola Soldo should replace him having started in midweek.

The 21-year-old was one of five changes against the Czech side, with Hubers and Ellyes Skhiri almost certain to return to the starting XI.

Julian Chabot, Mathias Olesen, Dimitrios Limnios, Mark Uth and Sebastian Andersson will not make the trip due to injury.

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:

Riemann; Gamboa, Masovic, Lampropoulos, Soares; Stoger, Losilla, Forster; Zoller, Hofmann, Holtmann

FC Koln possible starting lineup:

Schwabe; Schmitz, Soldo, Hubers, Hector; Martel, Skhiri; Adamyan, Ljubicic, Kainz; Dietz

We say: VfL Bochum 1-2 FC Koln

Baumgart changed half of his outfielders on Thursday, which should help keep his team fresh for the trip to Bochum at the weekend.

As such, we are struggling to see the hosts avoiding defeat yet again, with their main hope being that Butscher gets a positive reaction from the players after the managerial change earlier in the week.

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