RBL vs. VfL: The Pre-Match Facts!

The Bundesliga is back!

RB Leipzig will host VfL Bochum this Saturday (3:30PM CEST / 9:30AM ET) at the Red Bull Arena for the start of the Bundesliga. It will be our 137th home match in the top division, our fourth time welcoming our guests from the Ruhr region in our home.

➛ Are you in the mood for a great atmosphere, some bratwurst and Bundesliga football action? The last tickets available for the Saturday match start at 17 Euro!

So far we are still unbeaten in our home stadium against the VfL, who have gone through plenty of changes this summer. Here is a briefing for this weekend’s rival.

After succeeding at retaining their spot in the Bundesliga’s Relegation, VfL Bochum is fully transformed, with a new head coach and core players ahead of their fourth straight season in the top division.

Manager:

Peter Zeidler (62) is making his Bundesliga managerial debut, after several years in Switzerland (FC Sankt Gallen, FC Sion), France (FC Sochaux), and Austria (Red Bull Salzburg). Last season, he coached Sankt Gallen to a 5th position in the Swiss Super League.

Playing style:

Bochum’s new coach favors a more direct style of play. During the summer, his lineup would usually consist of a midfield diamond setup or a 4-3-3 system. With Zeidler, Bochum want to press aggressively and be pro-active with the ball.

A fun fact:

From January 2008 until January 2011, Peter Zeidler was Ralf Rangnick’s assistant coach at TSG Hoffenheim. Additionally, he was head coach at French side, FC Tours.

We’re still unbeaten in the Red Bull Arena against VfL Bochum!

Our home record: *

6 home matches / 5 wins / 1 draw / 0 defeats

The overall record: *

9 RBL wins / 1 draw / 1 defeat

* Bundesliga 1 and 2

A comprehensive squad re-design

14 players left and 9 came in their place. The youngest Bochum transfers are the centerback Jakov Medic (Ajax, loaned), who is still fresh in the memory of several fans due to his days at FC Sankt Pauli, and striker Myron Boadu (AS Monaco). Both players are expected to start in Leipzig next Saturday.

Dani de Wit (AZ Alkmaar) and Ibrahima Sissoko (Racing Strasbourg) were brought in as key elements for Bochum’s midfield. A second loan spell for Dinamo Moscow player Ivan Ordets will guarantee solidity in the defense.

Other reinforcements:

Timo Horn (Goalkeeper / Salzburg)
Patrick Drewes (Goalkeeper / Karlsruher SC)
Niklas Jahn ( Midfielder / 1. FC Nürnberg)
Sam Bamba (Striker / Borussia Dortmund)
Aliou Balde (Attacking midfielder / OGC Nice, loaned)

Key figures like Kevin Stöger (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Patrick Osterhage (SC Freiburg), Takuma Asano (Mallorca), Keven Schlotterbeck (FC Augsburg), Goncalo Paciencia (Celta Vigo) and Andreas Luthe (Karriereende) have left the club as of recent.

The players lost scored 23 of the 42 Bundesliga goals the VfL achieved last season, meaning they face the new championship without their most prolific scorers.

Kevin Stöger in particular will be a heavy loss, having been their top scorer (7 goals, 10 assists).

Best RBL scorer vs. Bochum:

Yussuf Poulsen (4 goals in 10 matches)

Total RBL goal tally vs. Bochum:

24 goals scored in 11 matches – 4 goals conceded

Biggest RBL win:

4-0 on October 1, 2022 (Goals: 2x Christo Nkunku and 2x Timo Werner)

Bochum’s most recent starting lineup (0-1 vs. Regensburg)

Drewes – Wittek, Masovic (76′ Oermann), Loosli, Passlack – Sissoko, Bero, Losilla (C / 71′ Boadu), Daschner (71′ Elezi) – Hofmann, Broschinski (86′ Bamba)