Losilla’s Return, Mystery of Masovic

Will Anthony Losilla (left) and Erhan Masovic (right) form the double six against Wolfsburg?

IMAGO/Team 2

The media department in Bochum announced the change fairly quickly; therefore the training on Friday is not open to the public. As a rule, only very few spectators want to attend the exercises anyway – Thomas Letsch is obviously playing it safe here in order to try out a few variants without kibitzers.

Because it is quite open in several positions with which starting eleven VfL Bochum tackles the home game against VfL Wolfsburg. “It’s about the balance,” said Letsch only vaguely in view of the meeting on Castroper Strasse. Of course, the hosts are not only warned of the offensive power of Lower Saxony because of the 4-0 defeat in the first leg.

It will be a completely different game than against Union.

“In the first game Wolfsburg showed us the quality they have. After all, there are top people in the squad,” said Letsch. His expectation: “It will be a hot fight, I expect Wolfsburg to be very active. It will be a completely different game than against Union.”

So a secret training session on Friday leaves room for speculation. It is clear, as Letsch has already revealed, that Anthony Losilla will return to defensive midfield. But what will become of Erhan Masovic, for example, who represented Bochum’s leader on the six in Köpenick in the game against Union?

Who starts at right-back?

Of course, a double six with Masovic and Losilla would be possible to ensure compactness on the defensive. In this case, Letsch would have found a place for Dominique Heintz, who took over from the injured Keven Schlotterbeck in the early stages in Köpenick on Sunday and was once again fully convincing. Or does Masovic play as usual as a central defender?

It is also quite open who will be part of the first line-up as a right-back; this is where Letsch has a lot to choose from. The use of Saidy Janko, who was still seeded at the beginning of the year, is rather unlikely. Jordi Osei-Tutu, who was allowed to start against Union, did not play really convincingly either.

Kostas Stafylidis was absent on Sunday due to illness, but now the ex-Hoffenheimer is fit again. However, it cannot be ruled out that Cristian Gamboa will be allowed to start again this time after his brief appearance against Union. As a mentality monster, the top dog would be extremely important for the team with his aggressiveness and passion.

Only Kevin Schlotterbeck is missing injured

Of course, the top sprinter is still a long way from being at 100 percent after tearing his inner ligament. “It won’t be enough for him for 90 minutes,” said Letsch. “He was pretty exhausted after his comeback, but that’s quite normal. Of course he’s an option again, and we’re all very happy about that.” So Gamboa could start against Wolfsburg and then stay on the pitch as long as the strength lasts.

With the exception of the injured Schlotterbeck, all professionals are available on Saturday. And six days after the game against Wolfsburg, the next endurance test with the derby against Borussia Dortmund is already waiting on Castroper Strasse.

Letsch has not experienced a single draw at home

Two extremely demanding tasks for Bochum with the brace in front of their own crowd on the 29th and 30th match day. But at least Thomas Letsch’s team is a little ahead of the home straight in the relegation battle; VfL has three points more than VfB Stuttgart in 16th place.

By the way, the record of the Bochum coach, who took over from Thomas Reis at the beginning of October, is interesting: Letsch has not experienced a single draw at home, there have been six wins and three defeats.

There is also a good omen for Bochum in the game against the ninth-placed team: In the last seven duels between these two teams, the visiting team never won.