Bundesliga | Gameweek 22

Feb 15, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

VfL Bochum vs Dortmund

Match preview

Both Bochum and Holstein Kiel created three good chances in the match, although the Blau-Weißes will be disappointed not to have held on to a 2-1 lead in the 39th minute.

The draw did, however, allow them to close the gap to 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, to just three points with 13 games remaining.

Manager Dieter Hecking will be alarmed by his side's goalscoring record, having found the back of the net just 19 times in the league, with only St. Pauli less productive in the final third.

Bochum have failed to win any of their last four matches - two draws and two defeats - and have conceded nine goals and scored five in that time.

Although Hecking's side have won two of their last four home games, those were their only victories at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion, having lost five and drawn three of their 10 home matches in the 2024-25 season.

Opponents BVB had the upper hand in the attacking stakes against Stuttgart - their 16 shots on target were four times as many as Die Roten's - but their defensive frailty was on full display as they conceded twice after poorly defended crosses into the box.

Kovac picked up his first win as Dortmund boss on Tuesday when his side defeated Sporting Lisbon 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 play-off tie, and to their credit they prevented Sporting from creating any real chances.

The Black and Yellows have been in fine goalscoring form in recent weeks, netting 11 times in five games, and their 37 Bundesliga goals make them the sixth most prolific side in the top flight.

Just seven points separate BVB from fourth-placed Leipzig, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, and they would need to overturn a four-point deficit to leapfrog sixth-placed Freiburg and qualify for the Europa Conference League.

Dortmund will be hoping their encounter with Bochum goes more smoothly than their meeting on 27 September, when BVB came from two goals down after 21 minutes to win 4-2 and take all three points.

It should be noted that the visitors have won three of their last four games in all competitions, although their form in the Bundesliga has been poor, losing four, drawing one and winning just one of their last six top-flight matches.

Kovac's side have long struggled away from home, losing eight of their last 12 Bundesliga games, drawing two and winning two of the other four.

Recent Performance

VfL Bochum Bundesliga form:LWDLLD

Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:LLLDWL

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):LDWWLW

Team News

Bochum defender Maximilian Wittek is suspended for Saturday's game after picking up a yellow card last time out, while injured forwards Myron Boadu and Felix Passlack will also be absent.

The hosts have been known to play a back three against the league's best, so Tim Oermann, Ivan Ordets and Bernardo could start at the back.

Gerrit Holtmann and Samuel Bamba could start at full-back, while Moritz Broschinski and Philipp Hofmann are likely to start up front.

The visitors will be without suspended full-back Julian Ryerson and injured defender Ramy Bensebaini, so Kovac may stick with a back four of Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck and Daniel Svensson.

Emre Can could move from defence to midfield alongside Pascal Gross, but Felix Nmecha is out until March.

In attack, striker Serhou Guirassy is likely to be supported by Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

Possible starting lineup

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:

Drewes; Oermann, Ordets, Bernardo; Bamba, Bero, Sissoko, Krauss, Holtmann; Broschinski, Hofmann

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:

Kobel; Couto, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Svensson; Can, Gross; Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy