After two away defeats in a row, VfL Bochum will play at home again on Saturday: against TSG Hoffenheim. This is how coach Thomas Letsch looks at the match.

After two away defeats in a row, VfL Bochum returns to its oasis of well-being – the Ruhrstadion – on Saturday.

Here, the Revierklub is unbeaten for five games and has won the last four matches. The aim is to extend this streak against TSG Hoffenheim (3.30pm).

“I’m pleased that things are going so well at home,” said coach Thomas Letsch in the media round on Thursday. Since he took over, Bochum have won the whole series at home. At the same time, the 54-year-old warned: “We must not make the mistake of seeing this as a foregone conclusion. We have to be just as focused as we have been in the last few games.”

Nevertheless, the current run in front of their home crowd naturally makes the Bochum side feel a certain ease, and Letsch knows that: “Then you just go into the home games with a good feeling. And that also applies to the opponent.”

Especially as things haven’t been going well at all for Hoffenheim recently. TSG has not won in eight league games. With a win, Bochum could draw level on points with the Sinsheimers and drag their opponents into the relegation battle with them.

“We must not make the mistake of underestimating Hoffenheim because of their negative run,” Letsch stressed. “We are certainly not the favourites, but we are going into the game with a lot of self-confidence.”

And with the support of our own fans. Once again, the home section at the Ruhrstadion is sold out. “Here, it’s always fun from the first minute on, the whole stadium goes along with every action. That’s fascinating,” Letsch enthused about the fans.

The football coach can call on almost his entire squad against TSG. Only the long-term injured Cristian Gamboa, Paul Grave and Michael Esser will be missing. Substitute keeper Esser is expected to return to training in the coming week.

This is a “fortunate situation”, according to Letsch: “It gives us a lot of options and is important before the next English week.” Because the duel with Hoffenheim is only the prelude to a tough programme. Next Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund comes to the DFB Cup eighth-finals, and three days later we go to FC Bayern. “What comes after that is relatively unimportant to me right now,” Letsch said. “But of course it would be nice to start with a win. “