Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. Bochum preview: Visitors in need of a miracle
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf are on the brink of returning to the Bundesliga for the first since 2019-20. After finishing in third place in the 2.Bundesliga, Düsseldorf travelled to the Vonovia Ruhrstadion for the first leg of their playoff tie with Bochum. It proved to be a successful outing, as the visitors cruised to a 3-0 victory to put them on the brink of promotion. Düsseldorf went into the break of Thursday’s clash with a narrow advantage following a Philipp Hofmann own goal. Felix Klaus then added a second before Yannik Engelhardt found the net to round off a dominant performance.
Having gone eight matches without defeat, Düsseldorf will head into the second leg in a confident mood. They can also take confidence from the fact they have won each of their previous six competitive home matches. That run of wins has helped them put together a seven-game unbeaten home run since losing to St. Pauli in January.
Team News
The hosts remain without the services of defender Jamil Siebert due to a thigh injury.
Bochum
Bochum are only competing in the playoff after dropping into 16th spot on the final day of the Bundesliga season. Heiko Butscher’s side fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat to Werder Bremen, while Mainz 05 and Union Berlin claimed victories to drop Bochum into the playoff.
Their hopes of maintaining their Bundesliga status were dealt a significant blow in Thursday’s first leg. Die Unabsteigbaren failed to make the most of home advantage as they fell to a heavy defeat which has left them on the verge of relegation.
Bochum now have a mountain to climb if they are to extend there three-year stay in the top flight. Unfortunately for die Unabsteigbaren, their away record offers little source of inspiration ahead of Monday’s trip to the Merkur Spiel-Arena. Bochum finished the regular season with the joint-worst away record after mustering 10 points from 17 matches. They have also lost eight of their previous 10 away games (W1, D1).
Team News
Moritz Kwarteng, Mohammed Tolba and Michael Esser are ruled out with knee injuries. Bochum are also unable to call upon Philipp Forster and Danilo Soares. Meanwhile, Erhan Mašović is a doubt due to illness.
Andreas Luthe will continue in goal after the club confirmed Manuel Riemann would not feature in the playoffs due to “irreconcilable differences”.
