For FC Augsburg coach Enrico Maaßen, defending a Bochum attacker will be decisive for the match against VfL Bochum.

On matchday 15 of the Bundesliga, VfL Bochum will be hoping to celebrate their first away win of the season at FC Augsburg. FCA coach Enrico Maaßen naturally wants to put a spanner in the works of the table’s second-last team – and reveals what will matter.

“You have the opportunity to get away from Bochum – they want to drag us down with them,” a glance at the table is enough for Maaßen to realise the importance of the game. “If we win the game, it will have been a very decent first half of the season overall. But we have to work hard for that first. “

Defensive focus on Hofmann

The important thing is not to play into Bochum’s football. “They press very high – often in one-on-one situations – have a good switching game, play straight up front and have a great target player up front in Philipp Hofmann, who puts the balls away. But with Kevin Stöger and Philipp Förster, they also have good footballers in their own ranks who can shape a game.”

As a result, he said, the defence cannot focus solely on Hofmann, but the centre-forward is FCA’s biggest challenge. “You have to give him the feeling every time that you are there.” The basic prerequisite for this, he said, will be the aggressiveness in tackling that Augsburg are known for. “You won’t get every ball they chip to him, but it’s about defending the spaces in front of where he puts the balls or also the extensions. “

The 38-year-old is alluding to the quick VfL outsiders like Christopher Antwi-Adjei, who keep going for the deep runs. The hosts, on the other hand, will in all likelihood be missing striker Mergim Berisha for their own attacking game. “We are waiting for the final training, but as of now he is not playing.” The 24-year-old had to be substituted early on in the 2-2 draw with Union Berlin and is unlikely to be able to help Maaßen’s side against VfL Bochum.