Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

VfL Bochumvs.Werder Bremen

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 December 2024, 14:09
Winless VfL Bochum enter Saturday's gameweek 13 clash at Vonovia Ruhrstadion 14 points adrift of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga table.

The hosts are the only side in Europe's top five leagues yet to win in 2024-25, and they hope to exploit Bremen's two-match losing run on their travels.

Match preview

Despite an unforeseen 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in Dieter Hecking's first match as head coach, Bochum have fallen into previous habits with losses at Stuttgart (0-2) and Augsburg (0-1).

Those defeats have continued the Blues' pitiful start to the new season, an extension of last term's mediocre campaign that saw them narrowly avoid relegation to Bundesliga 2.

With two points secured from an available 36, the bottom club are already eight points shy of Heidenheim in the relegation playoff spot and nine behind St Pauli in 15th heading into this weekend's 13th round.

Indeed, they face an uphill battle for survival, with all four teams with similar or worse starts to their Bundesliga season failing to beat the drop.

Given the home side's poor record against Bremen — they have one win in 20 top-flight meetings, claiming four draws and losing 15 — you would forgive supporters in North Rhine-Westphalia for fearing further disappointment this weekend.

The River Islanders aim to inflict more misery on their lowly opponents on Saturday, keen to improve on a positive historical record in this fixture and avoid a third road defeat in a row.

Ole Werner's men began the season accruing 10 points from 12 on their travels, even if losses to Borussia Monchengladbach (1-4) and second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt (0-1) have dampened the mood for the travelling support.

Those fans hope to avoid seeing their side fall to three away Bundesliga losses on the trot for the first time in over a year when they lost seven from April to October 2023.

Despite back-to-back disappointments on their travels, Werner's men claiming 10 of 16 points on the road point to a seeming preference for away matches, potentially standing them in good stead on Saturday.

Even though the River Islanders have won just once in five league outings, Bremen's goal stats (19) better the clubs in the bottom half of the standings, and the 12th-placed side look to exploit a Bochum outfit without a clean sheet in 28 league matches, aiming to notch a first Bundesliga victory since November 9.

VfL Bochum Bundesliga form:

L

L

L

D

L

L

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

W

D

L

W

L

D

Werder Bremen form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

D

W

Team News

No goalkeeper has conceded more than Patrick Drewes' 33 in the German top tier, highlighting Bochum's defensive bugbear before gameweek 13.

At the other end, Die Blauen hope for improved finishing from Moritz Broschinski, who has yet to score this term and failed to convert six chances termed clear-cut opportunities.

Hecking's men will be without joint top scorer Myron Boadu due to a hip injury, while Jakov Medic's fractured eye socket keeps him out on Saturday.

Bremen could be without the doubtful Felix Agu, who has a knee issue, but Keke Topp's ankle problem is expected to rule out the young forward this weekend.

Jens Stage has netted five goals from midfield, outdoing Marvin Ducksch (three), and aims to add to that tally against struggling opponents.

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:

Drewes; Oermann, Ordets, Bernardo; Passlack, Bero, Losilla, Sissoko, Wittek; Hofmann, Broschinski

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Zetterer; Stark, Friedl, Veljkovic; Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Kohn; Njinmah, Schmid; Ducksch

We say: VfL Bochum 1-2 Werder Bremen

It will be interesting to see if Bochum can build on their only home match under Hecking, which ended in a 1-1 draw with Leverkusen.

Written by

Anthony Brown

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton defender Jan Bednarek should be fit to start Wednesday's Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace at St Mary's. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United may struggle to fund their proposed new stadium, according to football finance expert Stefan Borson. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Arsenal's faint hopes of winning the Premier League title could be all but extinguished should they lose against eighth-placed Fulham at the Emirates on Tuesday. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are said to have received a £67m offer from Serie A side Napoli for winger Alejandro Garnacho, casting further doubt on his future at the club. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona attacker Raphinha could return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the Copa del Rey final will be on the line when Barcelona and Atletico Madrid face off in Wednesday's semi-final second leg at the Metropolitano. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic have reportedly identified Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj as an 'ideal successor' to captain Callum McGregor. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has revealed that Luke Shaw will not be available for selection for Manchester United's clash against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is set to make several changes to his side for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona at the Metropolitano. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eintracht Frankfurt have reportedly enquired about the availability of Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo amidst speculation that he will be allowed to leave in the summer. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola will miss Manchester City's Premier League clash against relegation-threatened Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Wrexham have revealed a club record turnover in their latest financial results. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will lock horns with Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Metropolitano. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole that the "breakout performance" of Nico O'Reilly against Bournemouth is one that manager Pep Guardiola will find "impossible to ignore". 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With eight games to save their second-tier status, a resurgent Derby County will welcome Preston North End to Pride Park for a Championship battle on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica can move level at the top of the Primeira Liga when they host relegation-threatened SC Farense at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday in round 27. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After securing their place in the FA Cup semi-finals, Crystal Palace will turn their focus back to Premier League action for Wednesday's meeting with Southampton at St Mary's. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Daniel Levy has told Tottenham fans the club must spend within its means amid calls for them to spend more in the transfer window. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk History could be in the making on Wednesday night when fourth-tier AS Cannes welcome Reims to the Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Viktor Gyokeres is a complete striker who will guarantee Arsenal goals in abundance - something fellow target Benjamin Sesko cannot offer. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha has taken to social media to declare his immediate commitment to the Premier League club. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool and Everton will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the second Merseyside derby of the season this midweek. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has provided a positive fitness update on Chris Wood ahead of Tuesday's Premier League fixture against Manchester United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur will look to make amends for the disappointing defeat they suffered at Fulham before the international break when they make another trip across London to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Andoni Iraola hasn't 'done enough' to justify leaving Bournemouth for the manager hotseat at Tottenham. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be bidding to avoid ending a 103-year streak in Tuesday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is available following a hamstring injury. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton are set to remain without wide pair Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil for the short trip across Stanley Park to face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool could be forced to start Jarell Quansah at right-back once again when they welcome Everton to Anfield for the Merseyside derby in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com A brand new football competition is here as some of the sport's legends combine with famous faces for six-a-side action.
Fri 04 Apr, 18:45
A
Genoa Genoa
-
sch
Udinese Udinese