The captain is back, there are hardly any absentees to complain about. That’s the situation ahead of VfL Bochum’s home game against VfL Wolfsburg.

Six more Bundesliga games are on the schedule. Then VfL Bochum, which started the season as underdogs, wants to celebrate staying in the league for the second time.

The starting position is clear: ahead of the upcoming home double-header against VfL Wolfsburg (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.) and against BVB (Friday, April 28, 8:30 p.m.), VfL has a three-point lead over 15th and 16th place – plus the worst goal differential.

Bochum was completely without a chance against VfL Wolfsburg in a 4-0 defeat in the first half of the season. VfL coach Thomas Letsch will only have to do without Keven Schlotterbeck (flesh wound), but captain Anthony Losilla will return to the starting eleven after his yellow suspension.

For Cristian Gamboa, it will be enough for a squad spot again after his long break, but he will not play from the start, as Letsch revealed: “Cristian Gamboa was pretty knackered after his comeback. That is quite normal. He is doing well. It’s not enough for 90 minutes yet. But he is an option again, which makes us very happy. “

The coach is less pleased about the first leg: “Wolfsburg showed us the quality they have in the first leg. They have top players in their squad. It will be a completely different game than in Berlin. I expect them to be very active. It’s going to be another hot battle.”

After all, VfL still has a chance to qualify for Europe. Bochum wants to stay in the Bundesliga. Both teams have nothing to give away.

But especially at home, VfL Bochum has already annoyed great opponents. At the last home game (2:3 against VfB Stuttgart), however, it became more restless, there was also the trouble between keeper Manuel Riemann and a spectator.

Letsch on the backdrop against Wolfsburg: “The atmosphere, for example against Leipzig, was sensational. It got a little restless at halftime against Stuttgart. That’s part of it. But one thing is clear: If we want to stay in the Bundesliga, we all have to stick together. Team, fans, staff.”

Especially since VfL’s remaining schedule is not easy, with matches against top teams Wolfsburg, BVB and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. Letsch: “The program of all the competitors is difficult. Because every game in the Bundesliga is a challenge. We still have four home games. That can be an absolute trump card. But in the meantime, we can also score away from home, even if it took time. “