VfL Bochum's chances of Bundesliga survival could be significantly damaged if they lose at home against Union Berlin on Sunday at Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
The hosts are second last in 17th place and have 20 points with just four matches left to play, while 13th-placed Union are mathematically safe following their 4-4 draw with Stuttgart last Saturday, a stalemate that increased their points tally to 35.
Match preview
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Bochum failed to create any big chances when they lost 1-0 against Werder Bremen on April 19, and having conceded the winner in the 80th minute, they will likely be devoid of confidence.
Die Blauen have only scored one goal in their past three matches while conceding 13 in their last five.
Bochum occupy one of two automatic relegation spots, and though they are only five points from the league's 16th-placed relegation playoff spot with a game in hand on Heidenheim, they are 10 points from 15th-placed Hoffenheim.
Boss Dieter Hecking's side come into Sunday's clash on the back of five consecutive defeats, though they did win two of their previous four.
The hosts have also been beaten in their four most recent outings at home, finding the back of the net twice while conceding on 10 occasions.
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Opponents Union managed to score four times against Stuttgart in the first half despite generating just 1.33 xG, but they will be disappointed to have surrendered 2-0 and 3-2 leads before the interval.
Head coach Steffen Baumgart's side created five big chances against Stuttgart whereas they had only produced 44 in their prior 29 league matches, an average of 1.5 per game.
Die Eisernen are winless against Bochum in five matchups – losing four – and were defeated 2-0 by Bochum at home on December 14 in the Bundesliga.
Baumgart's team are unbeaten in their last six fixtures and emerged triumphant in three of those games, keeping two clean sheets.
Union have also won two and drawn one of their three most recent away matches, but it should be noted that they lost eight of their prior nine on the road.
Team News
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Bochum boast a largely available squad, though midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko was sent off against Werder Bremen, so perhaps Tom Krauss will be partnered by Matus Bero.
In attack, winger Koji Miyoshi has been ruled out due to a thigh injury, but wide players Giorgos Masouras and Gerrit Holtmann are available for selection.
Should centre-back Tim Oermann recover from illness, he may play in a back three alongside Jakov Medic and Bernardo.
As for Union, midfielders Andras Schafer, Rani Khedira and Janik Haberer could feature considering Aljoscha Kemlein will not return this season due to a foot issue.
Wing-backs Robert Skov, Jerome Roussillon and Josip Juranovic will not be in the squad, making Christopher Trimmel and Tom Rothe the most probable candidates to appear on Sunday.
With attacker Woo-Yeong Jeong sidelined, expect Benedict Hollerbach and Andrej Ilic to play together in a front two.
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Horn; Oermann, Medic, Bernardo; Passlack, Bero, Krauss, Wittek; Masouras, Hofmann, Holtmann
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite; Trimmel, Schafer, Khedira, Haberer, Rothe; Hollerbach, Ilic
We say: VfL Bochum 0-2 Union Berlin
Union's form has been excellent, and they will be firm favourites due to Bochum's poor record in the Bundesliga.
The hosts have also conceded numerous goals in the past weeks, and it is not difficult to see the visitors scoring more than once on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
