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

Both sides have severely struggled in the opening months of the campaign, and Bochum have already implemented a new manager this season.

Match preview

Only twice in Wolfsburg's long top flight history have they made a worse start to a season after 11 matches.

Having collected just 11 points, it is somewhat surprising to see that they have lost only four times, which is just as many as Borussia Dortmund have up in fifth.

Too many draws have cost Wolfsburg dearly, and especially the fact they are prone to throwing away leads.

They have won just twice this season, even though they have had the lead on four other occasions, but failed to see it out, hence why they find themselves down in 14th.

Thomas Letsch has won two and lost two since he was appointed at Bochum at the start of the month, and the ability to pick up results since his arrival is a major plus point that the Bochum hierarchy were desperate for, after losing their opening six games.

He oversaw Der Blau's remarkable win over league leaders Union Berlin last week, something which never looked possible when they were winless before he became manager.

Even though they have won the same amount of games as Wolfsburg though, they find themselves in deeper trouble courtesy of having the worst defence in the division along with the joint-worst attack.

Letsch has come in and been able to grind out results, but the defensive side of their game still requires improvement, especially away from the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.

A 3-1 loss to bottom club Schalke under the previous manager was followed up by 4-0 and 4-1 losses at RB Leipzig and relegation candidates Stuttgart, meaning they are still the only club without a point away from home in the Bundesliga.

All seven of their points this season have been picked up in their last three home games, so while they are improving in that sense, they must sort of their form on the road, or they will be heading back to the 2. Bundesliga.

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

W

L

W

D

D

D

Wolfsburg form (all competitions):

L

W

D

D

W

D

VfL Bochum Bundesliga form:

L

D

L

W

L

W

VfL Bochum form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

W

W

Team News

Patrick Wimmer is still suffering with a knock to the ankle so this game may come too soon for the Wolfsburg midfielder.

That will be a big blow for the Wolves as three of their four defeats this season came when he was out injured earlier in the season.

Max Kruse (hip) and Bartol Franjic (ankle) are edging closer to returns to the first team squad though.

Filipino international Gerrit Holtmann lost his place in the starting XI last week, having not scored in his nine appearances up to that point, but he came off the bench and got the clinching goal within just five minutes against Union Berlin.

Therefore, he could be rewarded with reinstatement to the lineup, most likely in place of Jordi Osei-Tutu.

Striker Simon Zoller has not featured since going off at half time with a muscular problem after scoring in their 4-1 defeat at Stuttgart, while Takuma Asano will be out until after the World Cup with a ruptured knee ligament.

Lys Mousset is making strides in his return to full match fitness as the Frenchman looks for his first start at the club since joining from Sheffield United in the summer.

Jacek Goralski (muscle) and backup keeper Paul Grave (shoulder) are the other absentees for Bochum.

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Casteels; Baku, Bornauw, Van de Ven, Paulo Otavio; Svanberg, Arnold, Gerhardt, Kaminski, Nmecha; Marmoush

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:

Riemann; Gamboa, Masovic, Ordets, Soares; Losilla, Stoger, Forster; Antwi-Adjei, Hofmann, Holtmann

We say: Wolfsburg 3-1 VfL Bochum

Both teams have often scored in matches involving these sides in recent weeks, but that is heavily down to the defensive deficiencies in both sides.

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