Bottom-placed Bochum take on Frankfurt after embarassing Bayern defeat.

2024-10-27

As Eintracht Frankfurt aim to break their winless streak against Bochum, both teams enter Saturday's clash at Deutsche Bank Park with pressing motivations: Frankfurt eager to redeem themselves after a gritty draw, while Bochum fight to overturn their dismal season start after a heavy defeat to Bayern Munich.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt displayed resilience against Union Berlin, taking an early lead through Mario Götze's close-range right-footed strike in the 14th minute. However, Union responded in the second half when Benedict Hollerbach leveled the score with a precise left-footed finish in the 66th minute.

Frankfurt’s challenges were compounded as Arthur Theate received a second yellow card in the 77th minute, forcing them to finish the match with 10 men and sealing their second draw in five Bundesliga matches. Manager Dino Toppmöller will be keen to turn the tide when they face Bochum.

In their last four meetings, Frankfurt have been unable to secure a win against Bochum, with the previous three encounters ending 1-1. Notably, Frankfurt’s wait for a win against Bochum has only been longer against Borussia Dortmund, spanning 7 games.

Toppmöller is anticipated to continue with an attacking 4-4-2 setup, pairing the in-form Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike up front. However, Theate’s suspension, combined with injuries to Oscar Højlund and Sasa Kalajdzic, will leave Frankfurt with limited options.

VfL Bochum 1848

Bochum's challenging Bundesliga campaign hit a new low last weekend with a 5-0 defeat to Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich. This loss marked their fourth consecutive Bundesliga defeat [DLLLL], leaving them at the table's bottom.

With just one point from their first eight matches, Bochum's start has tied the record for the Bundesliga's poorest opening. This unfortunate feat is shared with Bochum's own 2022/23 season and teams like Fürth in 2021/22, Paderborn in 2019/20, Köln in 2017/18, and Saarbrücken in 1963/64.

Remarkably, only Bochum managed to avoid relegation under such circumstances. The Die Unabsteigbaren have now set an unwanted record, being the first to go winless in the opening eight games for three consecutive Bundesliga seasons.

In a glimmer of hope, Bochum's lone victory last season came on Matchday 9 with a decisive 3-0 win against this weekend's opponents, Eintracht Frankfurt. With their backs against the wall, Bochum Manager Peter Zeidler is expected to adopt a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Philip Hofmann and Moritz Broschinski are set to lead the front line as Zeidler looks to galvanize his team in their pursuit of a desperately needed result. However, lineup limitations loom, as Myron Boadu and Bernardo join suspended goalkeeper Manuel Riemann on the sidelines.