There is plenty at stake for both teams when VfL Wolfsburg take on VfL Bochum at 15:30 CEST on Saturday, with only one point separating the Wolves from the Ruhr district club in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga table. Both sides changed coaches recently after poor runs of form: Ralph Hasenhüttl is set to take charge of his fourth Wolves match (W1 L2 so far), while opposite number Heiko Butscher will lead Bochum out for the second time after last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Heidenheim.
Further facts and figures
Barren spells: The Wolves have lost five of their last six Bundesliga games and won only one of their previous 14 (Hasenhüttl’s debut in Bremen), leaving them second-bottom of the form table in the second half of the campaign, one place behind Saturday’s opponents. Bochum, meanwhile, are without a win since beating Bayern Munich 3-2 seven matches ago but managed to salvage a late draw against Heidenheim, which kept them in 15th place in the overall standings.
Poor form: Hasenhüttl’s team have 28 points from 29 league games and a goal difference of -16 – their worst-ever tally at this stage of a Bundesliga campaign.
No home comforts: The Wolves are without a win in nine home matches, equalling an unwanted club record. Another loss on home soil this weekend would set a new low.
Never relegated before: Ralph Hasenhüttl has never been relegated from the Bundesliga (in three seasons with Ingolstadt and RB Leipzig) or Bundesliga 2 (three seasons with Aalen and Ingolstadt).
Beware of set plays: Four of Bochum’s last six goals have come from dead-ball situations, including three from corners. Overall, 12 of their 34 league efforts this season have come from set plays.
Schlotterbeck the danger man: With four goals so far, Keven Schlotterbeck is the Bundesliga’s joint highest-scoring defender this term (along with Jonathan Tah and Julian Ryerson). However, the Bochum man has also put through his own net on two occasions.
Absentees: The Wolves are without the suspended Moritz Jenz and the injured Koen Casteels, who is still working his way back from a shoulder problem. Long-term absentee Lukas Nmecha also remains sidelined, but Maxence Lacroix returns from a two-match ban.
