Holstein Kiel vs VfL Bochum

Holstein Kiel will host VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga for the first time. The Storks remained unbeaten at home in the second division against VfL, picking up 10 of a possible 12 points (W3, D1). However, Bochum have tasted victory in Kiel in the DFB-Pokal, winning 2-1 in the second round in November 2002.

This match-up sees second-bottom Holstein Kiel welcome last-placed VfL Bochum. The last four Bundesliga meetings between the sides in these positions all saw the bottom club remain unbeaten, even winning on three occasions (D1). The last 18th-placed side that lost to a team sitting 17th was VfL Bochum themselves, when they were beaten 4-1 at VfB Stuttgart in October 2022.

Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum have both picked up just one point from their three Bundesliga games in the second half of the season so far (D1, L2) – only 1. FC Heidenheim are worse off (0). The last win for both clubs came on the midweek matchday in mid-January: Kiel beat Dortmund 4-2, while Bochum were 1-0 winners over St. Pauli.

With 10 points after 20 games, this is VfL Bochum’s worst season in their Bundesliga history. Since three points per win was introduced in 1995, only two clubs have had an equally bad or worse record at this stage: Fürth in 2021/22 (also 10 points) and Schalke in 2020/21 (8). No club in top-flight history has managed to avoid relegation after having a maximum of 10 points after 20 matchdays.

VfL Bochum have collected just one point from their 10 Bundesliga away games this season – a league low and a joint club negative record (also 1 in 1992/93). In fact, Bochum have only scored one goal in their five league games on the road under Dieter Hecking, coming in their 1-1 draw at Union Berlin.