Preview: VfL Bochum – Bayer Leverkusen

CelticKing · Sep 26, 2008

Preview: VfL Bochum – Bayer Leverkusen

What: Bundesliga Round 6
Who: VfL Bochum vs. Bayer Leverkusen
When: Saturday 27th September 2008, 15:30 (CET)
Where: Rewirpower Stadion, Bochum

Current Bundesliga hot shots Bayer Leverkusen travel to Bochum this weekend looking to add to the 15 goals they have scored already this season. Will Marcel Koller’s defence be strong or will the likes of Kiessling and Helmes be celebrating again?

Can VfL Stem The Tide?

Bochum will be looking to recover from their midweek Cup exit at the hands of Hamburg with good display and hopefully three points against high scoring Bayer Leverkusen. Their defence will have to be on top of it’s game if it is to stand up to the likes of Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kiessling.

“Leverkusen are in great shape at the moment”' Koller said. “They have scored a lot of goals and will have a lot of confidence. We need to gain back confidence, too, and can only do so by winning matches.”

The only good news from the Cup defeat in midweek was the fact that no new injury worries arose. Talking about the disappointing results of late Koller explained: “The players are just as frustrated as I am. We have just been unable to produce what we are capable of.

“The good thing about playing two games in a week is that you quickly get the chance to put things right. Bochum haven’t lost at home in their two games this season and will be wanting to make home advantage count against Leverkusen on Saturday.

Hot Shots

The Werkself have games coming thick and fast right now with this trip to Bochum coming hot on the heels of their midweek Cup win over FC Augsburg. Bruno Labbadia’s side have certainly found their scoring boots this season with 15 goals in their first five league games and they will be looking to bag some more- and three points this weekend.

A 5-0 demolition of Hannover last week saw Bayer put on a scintillating display of attacking football which sent out a warning to the rest of the Bundesliga as to what they can expect this season from this high quality squad.

Bayer trainer Bruno Labbadia, although delighted with what he has seen from his team this season, still feels there is more to come from his troops.

“These performances must serve as an incentive to reproduce the same again. After the Hannover match, we were praised for our attacking football. For me, the discipline, awareness of space and the willingness to be more flexible on the pitch were much more decisive.”

With Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kiessling grabbing all the attention with their goals, it is midfielder Simon Rolfes who has drawn the praise of Labbadia.

“He is a player who can distribute the ball and does best coming from deep and defensive midfield is therefore the ideal position for him. He plays with great intelligence , has good vision and wins tackles. This makes him indispensable for the back four as he intercepts a lot in midfield.”

Labbadia is also fully aware of the challenge that awaits his side at the Rewirpower Stadion this Saturday.

“Bochum reckon they’ve got the strongest squad for years. It will be a tough game for us and we’ll have to put in the necessary effort to win the game. But it is our intention to pick up three points in Bochum.”

FORM GUIDE

VfL Bochum

24/09/08 v Hamburg (a) LOST 2-0 (DFB Pokal)

20/09/08 v Energie Cottbus (a) DREW 1-1 (Bundesliga)

14/09/08 v Arminia Bielefeld (h) WON 2-0 (Bundesliga)

30/08/08 v Schalke (a) LOST 1-0 (Bundesliga)

24/08/08 v Wolfsburg (h) DREW 2-2 (Bundesliga)

16/08/08 v Karlsruher (a) LOST 1-0 (Bundesliga)

Bayer Leverkusen

23/09/08 v FC Augsburg (a) WON 0-2 (Bundesliga)

19/09/08 v Hannover (h) WON 4-0 (Bundesliga)

13/09/08 v Hamburg (a) LOST 3-2 (Bundesliga)

30/08/08 v 1899 Hoffenheim (h) WON 5-2 (Bundesliga)

23/08/08 v VfB Stuttgart (a) WON 0-2 (Bundesliga)

16/08/08 v Borussia Dortmund (h) LOST 2-3 (Bundesliga)

Head to head record in Bochum:

02/03/08 VfL Bochum 2 Bayer Leverkusen 0

08/11/06 VfL Bochum 1 Bayer Leverkusen 3

15/08/04 VfL Bochum 2 Bayer Leverkusen 2

23/08/03 VfL Bochum 1 Bayer Leverkusen 0

08/02/03 VfL Bochum 2 Bayer Leverkusen 1

TEAM NEWS

VfL Bochum

Marcel Koller will have to do without Daniel Imhof who is not yet back in training following his meniscus operation, and Dennis Grote who has also missde training thanks to a calf strain. Long-term absentees Concha, Renno, and Epalle are also missing.

In addition, several players are suffering with a cold.

Probable starting XI: Fernandes, Pfertzel, Maltritz, Yahia, Bönig, Zdebel, Freier, Dabrowski, Azaouagh, Sestak, Hashemian

Bayer Leverkusen

Both Arturo Vidal, who picked up a knock in the cup game, and René Adler, who is currently suffering from a light infection, should be fit for Saturday. Central defender Karim Haggui was able to train on Wednesday and could be an option for the back four.

The only other absentees are long-term casualties Bernd Schneider and Lukas Sinkiewicz.

Probable starting XI: Adler, Castro, Haggui, Henrique, Kadlec, Rolfes, Renato Augusto, Vidal, Barnetta, Kießling, Helmes

PLAYERS TO WATCH

VfL Bochum- Paul Freier

Midfielder Freier gets the chance to line-up against his old side this weekend after making the summer switch from the Bay-Arena to the Rewirpower Stadion. ‘Slawo’ played 112 Bundesliga matches for the Werkself in his time there and will be keen to put one over his old club this weekend and secure a vital three points for Bochum.

Bayer Leverkusen- Patrick Helmes

Patrick Helmes has started the season in tremendous form following his summer move from Köln. With six goals in his first five games, he is leading the scoring stakes in this early part of the season. The summer signing from Cologne signed a long-term contract extension this month and Labbadia is hoping he can continue his fine form. “He is one of a kind” Labbadia has said. “He has already shown his scoring potential, now it is time to improve his only weakness - heading.” What odds on a headed goal against Bochum this weekend?
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Colonel Ronan · Sep 26, 2008

0-2

CelticKing · Sep 26, 2008

VfL Bochum 1–3 Bayer Leverkusen

Claud · Oct 1, 2008

Leverkusen takes it 2-1.

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