VfL Bochum will start the last four games of the Bundesliga from the relegation spot. As a unit, it should be enough to stay in the class – the twelfth man will be important.

At VfL Bochum, they were very happy about the one point after the 1:1 in the derby against BVB. But after the 30th matchday of the Bundesliga, VfL is in the relegation spot after VfB Stuttgart’s win against Gladbach.

With a win – in Gladbach (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.) the VfL wants to get off it again. Attacker Philipp Hofmann emphasises before the 90 minutes at Borussia: “Unfortunately, we have slipped down. But for us, the approach remains the same. We look at ourselves, we want to win in Gladbach.”

At an opponent who, according to Hofmann, “is strong individually, but lags a bit behind expectations.” That was also the case in the first leg in Bochum, which VfL won 2-1 – also thanks to a decision by the video referee shortly before the end, which prevented the 2:2.

Now it should work out in Gladbach as well, but after a used season, coach Daniel Farke’s team is always capable of delivering good games, at least at home – see the victories against BVB or Bayern.

VfL midfielder Kevin Stöger explains: “Gladbach have enormous quality, they are a footballing team. We have to fight against that as a unit.”

Which also includes the fans, they have been celebrated so many times in the current series, because they are behind the team, even after a 1:5 in Wolfsburg.

Everybody has to come to Gladbach and also in a fortnight to Berlin.

Philipp Hofmann

And especially away from home, Hofmann is now hoping for a lot of travelling from VfL supporters ahead of the two remaining away games in Gladbach and at Hertha: “World class the fans, it was already like that against Wolfsburg. Everyone has to come to Gladbach and also to Berlin in a fortnight. That can give us a big boost.”

Because looking at the table, it is clear that the fight to stay in the relegation zone will continue, as FC Schalke are also back in the race and are only one point behind Bochum.

Stöger looks ahead: “It will go down to the wire. We still have it in our own hands. We haven’t always scored fully recently, but the performance has been right, even against BVB.” cb / gp