No one concedes as few goals at home as promoted Bochum. In the derby, the VfL’s defence is particularly in demand – and coach Reis has to do without three fine technicians.
Thomas Reis’ team have won five of their last seven games and have been particularly impressive at home: Only four goals conceded at Castroper Straße are a league best. Accordingly, the promoted team is naturally confident going into the match against BVB, but also knows its role.
Riemann is fit and ready for action
“Of course Dortmund are high favourites. But sometimes David wins against Goliath “, as Thomas Reis puts it. At least the Bochum coach can rely on his number 1 again: Manuel Riemann trained fully with the team on Thursday and is ready to play in the derby.
Instead, however, Reis will have to do without three players who all have a fine technique. Such as standards specialist Eduard Löwen, who tested positive for COVID-19. The midfielder, who is on loan from Hertha BSC, proved his class only the other day in Augsburg when he served perfectly twice from free kicks and set up two goals. In addition, Danny Blum is also out due to muscular problems.
No official reason given for Asano’s absence
There is a bit of mystery surrounding Takuma Asano’s absence because the official reason has not been given as to why the Japanese player has to miss out. It is possible that he is one of Löwen’s contacts; in any case, there was no concrete statement on Thursday as to why and how long Asano will have to sit out.
It will also be exciting to find out whether Maxim Leitsch will be back in the starting eleven for the first time since the first matchday. His enormous pace and calmness on the ball alone would speak for the use of the long-injured centre-back, especially to combat an athletic and fast player like Erling Haaland. “With his qualities, Maxim is of course always a topic,” said Reis, “even if he is of course not at 100 percent at the moment after a three-month break. “
Whatever the line-up, 13,799 spectators are admitted to the first derby in eleven years at Castroper Straße, which is almost 50 per cent capacity at the former Ruhrstadion. On the day of the match itself, the VfL will once again send out an urgent appeal to the fans to keep to the compulsory wearing of masks on the pitch. Otherwise, the promoted team will have to be prepared for not being allowed to let in so many spectators at its last home game a week later against Union Berlin.