Our next opponents: VfL Bochum on course

Position

VfL Bochum took a big step forward in securing their top-flight status with last weekend's 2-1 win away to TSG Hoffenheim. There was evident pride in the statements by striker Sebastian Polter after picking up three points at the Champions League contenders: "The mentality and passion we've shown again in this game is what has marked us out over the whole season." And defender Maxim Leitsch added: "Winning at Hoffenheim is outstanding for us. That brings us a big step closer to our target."

The target has been clearly defined since the start of the season: To stay up, get established in the Bundesliga again after being promoted for the first time in eleven years. And Bochum are doing well. They are in a comfortable position with a nine-point gap to the play-off spot of sixteenth. VfL are currently enjoying their second best season in this millennium with 35 points in 28 games. They are currently eighth in the second half of the season form table. The thrilling football Bochum are capable of playing was experienced by league leaders and record champions Bayern Munich in the middle of February when they suffered their biggest defeat in the Bundesliga this season with a 4-2 loss at Castroper Straße.

Last week's three points in Sinsheim were particularly important as Bochum had lost two matches in succession before the international break. And the incident with the beer mug thrown in the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 18 March caused a lot of trouble at the club. That match was abandoned on 69 minutes with Gladbach 2-0 up after assistant referee Christian Gittelmann was hit on the head by the beaker. The DFB sports tribunal awarded a 2-0 win to Borussia Mönchengladbach. A second set of proceedings considering other sanctions is current. For the first home game after the Gladbach match Bayer 04 can again expect to play in front of 25,000 fans at the Vinovia Ruhrstadion. VfL head coach Thomas Reis, who will be in the Bochum dugout for the 100th time, is very ambitious: "We definitely want the three points and move up to 38. With that – I'm pretty sure – we would avoid going straight down."

Personnel

The personal situation for the Blue and Whites has eased considerably. The return of one player may be particularly emotional: Simon Zoller is set to make his comeback after seven months on the sidelines due to a torn cruciate. It seems unlikely he will start but the striker, who scored 15 goals in the promotion season, could play a part off the bench. Thomas Reis, who has had to deal with a lot of absences due to coronavirus in recent weeks, is looking forward to "more competition" in his squad for the season run-in. "That could be the key to success." In defence, the experienced full-backs Danilo Soares (30) and Cristian Gamboa (32) are back on board as are the two young homegrown central defenders Maxim Leitsch (23) and the Germany U21 international Amel Bella Kotchap (20) who is one of the best ball winners in the Bochum side but he was suspended for the Hoffenheim game.

VfL have no problems in terms of goalkeepers. Manuel Riemann again showed how important he is for the team in Sinsheim. The 33-year-old shot-stopper is amongst the top three keepers in the league and is also very good with his feet. In the 2-1 win against Hoffenheim, away victory number 100 for Bochum in the Bundesliga, Riemann provided two assists for the Japan international Takuma Asano with accurate long balls in his 200th league appearance for VfL.

And captain Anthony 'Toto' Losilla also celebrated a landmark in Sinsheim: The 36-year-old Frenchman made his 250th league appearance for the Blue and Whites and in the number six position – this time alongside the former Leverkusen player Kostas Stafylidis – he again provided both security and inspiration. Key performers in central midfield are Elvis Rexhbecaj and Eduard Löwen on loan from VfL Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin respectively plus the Serb Milos Pantovic. On the flanks are Gerrit Holtmann, with six assists the best provider for the Blue and Whites and top scorer of the year in 2021, the Ghanaian Christopher Antwi-Adjei and Takuma Asano. Up front Sebastian Polster is a regular and the top scorer for VfL with eight goals. His fellow striker Jürgen Locadia is still sidelined due to hip problems.

Performers

In whichever system, whether it's the often played 4-3-3, the 4-1-4-1 or, as recently, the 4-2-3-1 line-up: VfL Bochum are particularly strong in fast transition. They are considered the counter-attack kings of the league and have scored six goals this way (third in the league rankings). Whenever they win the ball, they look to involve the fast wing players Holtmann, Antwi-Adjei or Asano. The latter produced some good moves in the 1-0 defeat for the Blue and Whites against Leverkusen earlier in the season. Bochum had 21 shots on goal at the BayArena and that was more than the Werkself. VfL achieved the same number in the 2-1 win against Hoffenheim. And this season's newcomers have looked solid at the back with a few exceptions and with 40 goals conceded they have a place in the top half of the table.

Problems

In spite of the strength in counter-attacks finishing has proved a problem. Bochum have scored just 30 goals – only Wolfsburg, Bielefeld and Greuther Fürth have netted less. VfL have failed to score in 10 of 28 games. There is a lack of accuracy which is reflected in the stats: The Blue and Whites are bottom with a pass completion rate of 72%. And in terms of shots on goal (15th), conversion rates (16th) and taking clear-cut chances (18th) the Reis team are well down the rankings in the Bundesliga. Perhaps they can take heart from the example of Takuma Asano: The Japanese midfielder, who is set to make his 50th Bundesliga appearance for Bochum against the Werkself, scored a brace in Sinsheim – before that he had only scored two goals in 48 games.

Prediction

Since the introduction of the three points for a win rule, no team has gone down with a nine-point lead over sixteenth place after 28 games. So, VfL Bochum should not be worried about relegation any longer as they proved with the win at TSG Hoffenheim that they can handle difficult situations. The newcomers look very solid. In addition, head coach Thomas Reis now has almost all his squad to choose from again.