Nuri Sahin will be hoping that his Borussia Dortmund side can bounce back from their deserved defeat last time out by winning against VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Friday at Signal Iduna Park.
The hosts were thoroughly outclassed by Stuttgart when they lost 5-1 in the league on September 22, and they are currently eighth with seven points from four games, while the visitors are third last in 16th place with just one point from four matches.
Match preview
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Dortmund's strong start to the 2024-25 campaign came to an abrupt end last time out when they lost to last season's Bundesliga runners-up.
Stuttgart had taken a 2-0 lead by half time and created four big chances, as well as having 60% possession and producing six shots from inside BVB's penalty area in the first 45 minutes.
Enzo Millot scored a third goal for Stuttgart in the 62nd minute and though Serhou Guirassy netted a consolation effort in the 75th minute, Dortmund went on to concede a further two times to compound a miserable afternoon.
Sahin thought that his side's showing was so bad that he described it as a non-performance, saying that he does not want to ever see an outing like that again.
The result leaves Sahin's team five points behind leaders Bayern Munich, and it means that Dortmund have conceded seven goals in their last two league games.
BVB have won their last five Bundesliga matches at home by a cumulative score of 15-3, though prior to these fixtures they had lost two, drawn one and won just one of their previous four league games at Signal Iduna Park.
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Opponents Bochum come into the clash having picked up their first point of the season when they drew 2-2 with Holstein Kiel last time out on September 21.
While manager Peter Zeidler will have been pleased that his side were able to end a run of three consecutive league defeats, he will be disappointed that his club conceded an 89th-minute equaliser after having led 2-1 from the 35th minute.
Of the 18 sides in the top flight, Zeidler's team have conceded the most xG, produced the least xG and had the fewest touches in the opposition box.
Bochum have lost 11 times, drawn on three occasions and won just twice in their last 16 Bundesliga matches, including losing five of their last six.
The visitors' away league form is also concerning, with the team having lost 26, drawn seven and won only four of their last 37 games on the road.
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Team News
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The hosts will certainly be without Giovanni Reyna and Felix Nmecha, who are both expected to be unavailable until early and late October respectively.
Defenders Ramy Bensebaini and Julian Ryerson may also sit out of Friday's clash as the pair are both recovering from illnesses, though the duo should be available for Dortmund's next match at the latest.
After their 5-1 defeat against Stuttgart, it would be stunning if Sahin opted to use a similar starting lineup, so expect Emre Can to come into midfield for Pascal Gross.
Some have criticised Sahin's decision to utilise Marcel Sabitzer on the right side of attack, and the more natural midfielder could partner Can in the centre of the pitch.
Meanwhile, Bochum will be unable to select defender Bernardo until early October, while Ivan Ordets is still nursing a shoulder injury and may not feature on Friday.
Centre-back Erhan Masovic was substituted last time out, and he could be replaced in the starting XI by Tim Oermann.
Given his side managed to earn a point against Holstein Kiel, Zeidler may be tempted to select an unchanged midfield, with Dani de Wit, Ibrahima Sissoko and Matus Bero likely to feature.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Couto, Anton, Sule, Schlotterbeck; Sabitzer, Can; Adeyemi, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Drewes; Passlack, Medic, Oermann, Wittek; De Wit, Sissoko, Bero; Daschner; Boadu, Hofmann
We say: Borussia Dortmund 3-0 VfL Bochum
Though Dortmund were outplayed by Stuttgart, it is difficult to see them dropping points at home against relegation-contenders Bochum.
Additionally, given the visitors' poor away record and their concerning defensive record, it would not be surprising if the hosts scored multiple goals.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
