Bundesliga | Gameweek 24

Mar 1, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

VfL Bochum vs Hoffenheim

Match preview

Although Bochum could move above Heidenheim if the sports tribunal's decision to award them a 2-0 win over Union Berlin is upheld, the Blues remain in the dreaded bottom two going into round 24.

Hecking's side currently sit second from bottom on goal difference, two points above Holstein Kiel going into the weekend.

While Die Unabsteigbaren cannot move higher than the relegation play-off spot this weekend, Bochum could close the gap on St Pauli, who are on a three-game losing streak in 15th.

Die Blauen, on the other hand, have avoided defeat in their last three top-flight matches, drawing at Kiel and Wolfsburg before beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in their last home game.

Looking to add to their three home wins under Hecking - victories over Heidenheim (2-0), St. Pauli (1-0) and Dortmund (2-0) - the hosts, who have lost just once in five games at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion, will be hoping for another positive result in North Rhine-Westphalia.

With an opponent who is not completely out of the woods, Saturday's clash should be competitive despite Hoffenheim's injury problems.

Nevertheless, Christian Ilzer's men have taken four points from their last two Bundesliga games, a 3-1 win at Wolfsburg and an equaliser against last season's runners-up Stuttgart to claim a point in the 23rd round of the competition.

The travelling supporters will be hoping for a similar result to avoid losing three Bundesliga games for the first time since October 2024, when they drew twice against Stuttgart and Heidenheim, both of whom they beat 3-1 this weekend.

However, Hoffenheim have not beaten Bochum in North Rhine-Westphalia since a 3-1 victory in October 2008, with their last four league meetings ending in defeat.

It will be interesting to see if the Kraichgauers can break that losing streak and continue their commendable run of winning two of their last three top-flight away games, having gone eight games without a win away from home before beating Kiel 3-1 in January.

The Kraichgauer, who are aiming for their first back-to-back Bundesliga victories on the road since winning five in a row between August and October 2023, could leapfrog 13th-placed Union Berlin, although that outcome is dependent on the capital club dropping points against the league's worst side.

Recent Performance

VfL Bochum Bundesliga form:DLLDWD

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:WDLLWD

Hoffenheim form (all competitions):DWLLWD

Team News

Felix Passlack (eye) and Gerrit Holtmann (hip) will be assessed before Saturday, while Myron Boadu (hamstring) is ruled out.

In the absence of seven-goal man Boadu, Matus Bero, Dani de Wit and Giorgos Masouras will have to step up for the Blues, with the latter scoring a brace against Dortmund.

Oliver Baumann (foot), Diadie Samassekou (thigh) and Umut Tohumcu (ankle) are doubts for this weekend's game, while Ihlas Bebou (knee), Valentin Gendrey (groin), Adam Hlozek (foot), Ozan Kabak (knee), Christopher Lenz (calf) and Grischa Promel (knee) are all expected to miss out.

Two of Andrej Kramaric's seven goals have been match-winners and the Croatian, who has five assists to his name, will be hoping to make a difference.

Gift Orban has scored in back-to-back games for the Ilzers, including last weekend's equaliser against Stuttgart, and the Nigerian could be looking to make it three in a row.

Possible starting lineup

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:

Horn; Masovic, Ordets, Bernardo; Oermann, Bero, Sissoko, Krauss, Wittek; Masouras, Hofmann

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Philipp; Kaderabek, Chaves, Ostigard, Prass; Stach, Becker; Bischof, Kramaric, Bulter; Orban