Bochum. Leipzig relies on a reaction after the 0:7 in Manchester, Bochum on a different VfL than in the first leg and Letsch on three runners in the middle.
VfL Bochum have played against eight times so far RB Leipzig played. Four times in the 2nd division. Once in the cup round of 16. Three times in the Bundesliga. Bochum lost all eight games. Bochum only scored two goals and conceded 20. The heaviest league defeat came in the first leg, when VfL was still very well served with a 0:4 loss.
It was Thomas Letsch’s failed debut as VfL coach. The apparently hopelessly beaten tail light at that time with only one point. “I made decisions that I would no longer make,” Letsch said a few days before meeting the “Red Bulls” again on Saturday, this time at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion (3:30 p.m. / Sky). This included, for example, the switch to a three-man chain, the corrected removal of Kevin Stöger, who was in a good mood at the time, during the break. “We learned the lessons from the game relatively quickly,” says Letsch.
VfL Bochum: A fall in 18th place is not possible this weekend
In numbers: The 3-0 win against Frankfurt followed, the redeeming first win of the season. 21 points followed and Bochum is eleventh in the “Letsch table” of this 17-game period. Overall he is fourteenth. In the worst-case scenario, if they lose, VfL could drop back to 17th place at the weekend. Hertha BSC host Hoffenheim, so only one of these teams can pass. In addition, Stuttgart would have to win against Wolfsburg and Schalke in Augsburg.
Defeat? Letsch sends a declaration of war towards Leipzig: “The VfL from that game has nothing to do with the VfL of today. We will definitely present ourselves differently. It would be ideal to go into the international break with a positive feeling.”
Leipzig’s Eberl relies on “guys who get up again” after 0: 7
Whether Leipzig’s 7-0 debacle in the Champions League on Tuesday evening at world-class club Manchester City is an advantage or disadvantage for VfL? Comparisons between City and Bochum are forbidden, but perhaps the RB frustration will continue on the VfL lawn.
Perhaps a now-right reaction will follow, even if Leipzig cannot make up for the shame of Manchester with a (mandatory) win at the relegation candidate. Max Eberl, Leipzig’s sports director, set the direction: “Everyone has to ask themselves what they did wrong and endure the malice that will rain down on us,” said Eberl. “I like guys who get back up. And we can prove that on Saturday.”
Does Leipzig rotate? Rose has incredible quality on the bench
Perhaps coach Marco Rose will also rotate properly: On the bench in Manchester there were players who can make Bochum dizzy on a good day. Dani Olmo, Andre Silva, Yussuf Poulsen for example. Bochum’s motto will once again be to throw oneself into duels, to defend one’s own goal with all means, not to give Leipzig back the fun in the game.
And to run like in Cologne. Like Patrick Osterhage for example. The 23-year-old was in the starting XI twice, against Schalke and in Cologne. “Patti was very strong in both games,” praised coach Letsch, who for a long time only used him as a joker, preferring either Pierre Kunde or Philipp Förster.
That’s what coach Letsch says about Patrick Osterhage’s performance
In terms of runners, Osterhage “put out a top value”, said Letsch, who substituted him after 82 minutes. On average, he was at eye level with Anthony Losilla and Kevin Stöger, the number one of the evening with 12.35 kilometers. All three central players excelled in the running area. “Patti is someone who sacrifices himself for the team, he also plugs holes on the defensive, he does that very well,” praised Letsch and took Stöger and of course Losilla on board: “All three marched a lot.”
It could be a few more meters against Leipzig. Osterhage prefers to think of the last home game against the Saxons than the first leg. It was only in the 82nd minute that Christopher Nkunku, currently injured, scored a good year ago in RB’s 1-0 win. “We didn’t look bad there,” says Osterhage. “We can also score points against Leipzig.”
