Bernardo has played every minute for VfL Bochum so far this season. Now they are finally looking for their first win.

At the beginning of August, VfL Bochum signed defensive all-rounder Bernardo from RB Salzburg for a six-figure transfer fee. VfL coach Thomas Letsch raved about the versatility of the Brazilian, who signed at Castroper Straße until 2025.

So far, he has played every minute of a match this season. The 120 minutes in the cup at third division side Arminia Bielefeld, as well as the three games in the Bundesliga against VfB Stuttgart, BVB and FC Augsburg.

He is still waiting for his first win with the new team, even though the form curve showed an upward trend in the 1:1 against Borussia Dortmund and the 2:2 at FC Augsburg.

And ahead of Saturday’s home game (18:30) against Eintracht Frankfurt, the 28-year-old said: “Cristian Gamboa said we usually get a win against Frankfurt. But it will be a difficult task. We are working every day to show a good performance.”

What Gamboa meant: Last year there was a 3-0 win at home against Frankfurt. It was the first win after a horror start with eight games at the beginning of the season without a treble.

The year before there was a 2:0 win against Eintracht in the Ruhrstadion. So now comes the third strike? Before that happens, Bernardo used the three days off to really settle in NRW. He moved into his new flat in Düsseldorf.

Now that the chapter is closed, he can concentrate fully on football again. And that’s where the first victory is to come. And where, if not at home, in front of the backdrop that has already carried VfL to so many successes.

Bernardo, too, cannot remember experiencing such support for a team he played for in his career: “We get the extra support of the fans. They are very loud, I haven’t experienced that in my career. In Leipzig or Salzburg it was good, but already quieter. Here it’s just different. I am very happy to be here. “