VfB Stuttgart vs. Bochum: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

Latest

Wimmer takes charge of Stuttgart for the first time since being placed in temporary charge following Pellegrino Matarazzo's dismissal. The Stuttgart assistant inherits a team sat second bottom of the Bundesliga, without a win all season and on a three-match losing run. French defender Zagadou is expected to make his second successive start, but midfielder Atakan Karazor and striker Serhou Guirassy are suspended after misdeeds in the 1-0 home defeat to Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin. Chris Führich and Luca Pfeiffer should come in as Stuttgart chase their first Bundesliga win since beating Cologne on the final day of last season to secure their top-flight status.

Bochum finished in the relative comforts of 13th place last term, but are experiencing a bad case of the sophomore slump in 2022/23. Six successive defeats cost Thomas Reis his job, before the Ruhr district club picked up a long-overdue point against Cologne. They lost 4-0 to RB Leipzig in Thomas Letsch's first game as head coach, only to break the cycle at the ninth attempt by beating UEFA Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0. Ex-Stuttgart midfielder Philipp Förster scored one and assisted two as Bochum moved to within two points of promoted Schalke in the relegation play-off spot. The return of Kevin Stöger also gives Stuttgart-born Letsch an extra man to add to his winning formula at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Match stats

Only Bochum (eight) have scored fewer goals than Stuttgart (nine), for whom Guirassy and Führich have a team-leading two apiece. Bochum pair Philipp Hofmann and Simon Zoller also have two each.

Nine matches without a win to start a Bundesliga season is an ignominious Stuttgart club record.

VfB have conceded at least once in their last 26 home matches in the Bundesliga, equalling an unwanted record set by Rot-Weiss Essen (1970-1974)

Förster played for the Stuttgart U17s, 19s and reserves, before making 76 senior appearances for the club.

Bochum are the only team this season without a point away from home (four defeats).

VfL have not won in Stuttgart in the Bundesliga since 29 May 1987 (D7, L16).

Get Zagadou for your Fantasy team for 6M!

Want more Bundesliga Action?

Sign up for our official newsletter:

E-Mail*

Subscribe

I hereby agree to the TERMS OF USE and PRIVACY STATEMENT and consent that DFL will collect, use, process and store my data if necessary for the selected Service(s). I understand that I can withdraw my consent(s) at any time. *Required

* Required

Probable teams

Stuttgart: Müller - Mavropanos, Anton, Zagadou - Silas, Endo (c), Ahamada, Sosa - Führich - Pfeiffer, Tomas

Out: Guirassy (suspended), Karazor (suspended)

Doubtful: Vagnoman (foot)

Coach: Michael Wimmer

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

Out: Asano (knee), Esser (muscular), Goralski (muscular), Grave (shoulder), Stafylidis (not included)

Doubtful: Janko (knock), Mousset (fitness)

Coach: Thomas Letsch

About the clubs VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

VfB Stuttgart

Mercedes-Benz Arena

Share