Bochum vs. Bremen preview: Hosts still seeking first win of the season

Bochum

Newly-appointed Bochum trainer Dieter Hecking's team must contend with the fact that - dating to last season - they've gone 14 consecutive league games without a win. It was indeed Bremen who sent the Revierklub to a humiliating 1-4 defeat at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion on the final match-day of last season. This result sent Bochum to the promotion-relegation playoffs.

The VfL have always garnered a reputation as a strong home side. Bremen nevertheless remain most unwelcome guests on the Castroper Straße. Bochum have not beaten Bremen at home in ten matches. Should the hosts either lose or draw against their guests, the 1848ers will tie their all-time record (15) for a run of winless matches, set back in the 1992/93 campaign. 

Team news:

Previous starter Jakob Medic is out with a fractured eye socket. There is good news, however, as talented Brazilian defender wingback Bernardo is expected to make his long-awaited return irrespective of whether Hecking opts for a back-four or back-five. New starting candidates to help Hecking jump-start his languid attack include Koji Miyoshi, Moritz-Broni Kwarteng, and Gerrit Holtmann.

Bremen

Ole Werner's Hanseaten roll into town carrying some confidence after drawing Stuttgart in the league last week and knocking former head-coach Florian Kohfeldt out of the Pokal. A win could pull the city-state side out of their mid-table and back into the European discussion. Bremen narrowly missed out on Heidenheim's European place last season despite their big win against Bochum on the final match-day. 

Team news:

Felix Agu remains unavailable while defender Milos Veljkovic - injured in the Pokal - is questionable. Game-winning goal-scorer in the cup Anthony Jung is expected to replace Veljkovic while Derrick Köhn will continue to deputize for Agu. Justin Njinmah is also expected to return to the attack in place of Marco Grüll.