First Team

Time to kick on

The need-to-know facts ahead of the away match at VfL Bochum.

After the 2-1 win at home to Leipzig, VfL Wolfsburg are aiming for more points on the road against VfL Bochum this Saturday. Thomas Letsch’s side are unbeaten in four Bundesliga games, although they’re also the only team in the league yet to win at home this season. VfL did the double over Bochum last season, triumphing 5-1 at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion and 4-0 on home soil. Indeed, the Wolves have lost just one of their last eight league meetings with Bochum – a 1-0 away defeat during the season before last.

More facts and figures

  • Return to ex-club: VfL sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz was a player (82 Bundesliga appearances, seven goals) and official (managing director for sport until summer 2022) at Bochum.

  • Potential century: Koen Casteels has celebrated 99 wins in his Bundesliga career to date – 86 with Wolfsburg, 11 with 1899 Hoffenheim and two with Werder Bremen. Will the goalkeeper make it 100 at Bochum?

  • Possible half-century: Philipp Hofmann is set to make his 50th competitive appearance for Bochum on Saturday. The 30-year-old striker is still waiting for his first goal in this Bundesliga campaign. 

  • Kovac unbeaten: Niko Kovac has never lost to Bochum in the Bundesliga. As a coach he has overseen two resounding victories (4-0 and 5-1), while as a player he won seven times and was involved in three draws.

  • Old against young: Bochum have put out the oldest team in the German top flight this season. In contrast, the Wolves are the second youngest side.

  • Wolves lacking bite on the road: Just three of Wolfsburg’s 16 points this season have been collected on their travels, and they have lost each of their last five away outings in the Bundesliga (4 goals for, 14 against).

  • Team news: Kovac is without Patrick Wimmer and Lukas Nmecha (both injured) for the trip to North Rhine-Westphalia. On top of that, Jonas Wind is a doubt with a cold. For Bochum, left-back Danilo Soares and Ivan Ordets have been ruled out because of injury.