This Sunday night, VfL Bochum, desperate to secure their Bundesliga status for next season, host the newly-crowned Europa League finalists Bayer Leverkusen at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
Bochum fans are still buzzing after their recent seven-goal thriller against Union Berlin, while Leverkusen are fresh off their continental triumph. It promises to be a clash of contrasting emotions!
Bochum have a bit of an injury crisis, particularly in defence. Left-back Danilo Soares is out for the season with a muscle problem, while young centre-back Mohammed Tolba is sidelined with a serious knee injury. They’re also short on goalkeepers after Niclas Thiede broke his finger in March.
Leverkusen have their own injury woes, with star youngster Florian Wirtz potentially missing the rest of the season due to a thigh injury. This could open the door for Jonas Hofmann and Adam Hlozek to keep their places in the starting lineup, with Patrik Schick potentially pushing for a start up front after being benched in the Europa League final.
VfL Bochum probable lineup:
Riemann; Passlack, Ordets, Schlotterbeck, Bernardo; Osterhage, Bero; Broschinski, Stoger, Wittek; Hofmann
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Hlozek; Boniface
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