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VfL Bochum – VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart have just fought their way into the DFB Cup final with a convincing 3-1 win against RB Leipzig, and now the next crucial game in the Bundesliga is already waiting: VfL Bochum will host the Swabians at the Vonovia Ruhr Stadium on Saturday. For Bochum, currently in 17th place with 20 points, survival is at stake. Stuttgart, on the other hand, are currently in 11th place and have not won a league game despite their cup success. As a reminder, the last direct duel in November was won by VfB with 2:0.
Bochum – Stuttgart Infos
- Venue: Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum
- Date and Time: 05.04.2025, 15:30
- Competition: Bundesliga
Bochum Form & Record Check
VfL Bochum is having a difficult season and is in a relegation battle. Bochum have only picked up four points from their last five league games. The only bright spot was the surprising 3-2 win at FC Bayern Munich, which was quickly overshadowed by a 3-1 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt and another 3-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen. Defensively, the team is in disarray: in each of the last five games, VfL has conceded at least one goal. Particularly alarming is the fact that in 80% of the games after the break, more than 1.5 goals have been scored – usually against Bochum. With two points separating them from 1. FC Heidenheim, the situation is precarious, which is why a new sports director, Dirk Dufner, has been installed to turn things around together with coach Dieter Hecking.
In the relegation battle, coach Dieter Hecking is likely to play a compact 5-3-2. Timo Horn could be in goal, supported by a back five with Passlack, Oermann, Ordets, Wittek and Gamboa. In midfield, Sissoko, Krauss and Bero will close down spaces, while Masouras and Hofmann are likely to start in attack. Koji Miyoshi (torn muscle) and Bernardo (Achilles tendon problems) are still out. Whether this defensive concept will lead to success will only be decided shortly before the game when Hecking nominates the final team.
Stuttgart Form & Record Check
VfB Stuttgart are currently showing two completely different faces. They are lacking consistency in the Bundesliga: the Swabians went five league games without a win, and were recently beaten 1-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt. Offensively, they lacked ideas and penetration. With 37 points, VfB is only one point behind Borussia Dortmund, but the situation is tight. Things are going rather better in the cup, however: the 3-1 triumph against RB Leipzig saw Stuttgart advance to the final against Arminia Bielefeld. Angelo Stiller, in particular, impressed with a spectacular goal from around 20 meters, and Nick Woltemade also shone with a goal and an assist. However, VfB have conceded in each of their last five games, underlining their well-known defensive problems.
Sebastian Hoeneß is likely to stick with the successful 5-3-2 formation that proved its strength against RB Leipzig (3-1) in the cup semi-final. Al Dakhil, Jeltsch and Chabot are expected to form the defensive axis, flanked by Mittelstädt and Leweling. In central midfield, Stiller, Karazor and Millot could pull the strings. Demirović and Woltemade are planned as a duo in the forward line. However, VfB will have to do without Zagadou, Vagnoman and Diehl due to injury. Whether Woltemade will be allowed to start again after his convincing performance in the cup game remains an exciting question for the coach.
Bochum – Stuttgart head to head & statistics
Stuttgart have won four of the last five meetings between the two. The most recent clash in November 2024 ended in a 2-0 win for the Swabians, while Bochum’s only victory in this series came in January 2024, when they won 1-0. Stuttgart’s 5-0 victory in August 2023 was particularly emphatic. A total of four of these five encounters saw more than 2.5 goals, with VfB often laying the foundation for victory in the first half. Bochum, on the other hand, often struggled to remain defensively stable for the full 90 minutes.
