VfB Stuttgart vs VfL Bochum

VfB Stuttgart are unbeaten in their last 25 competitive home games against VfL Bochum (W18, D7), their longest undefeated streak at home to any side in professional football. They were last beaten in Stuttgart by Bochum on 29th May 1987 (4-2 in the Bundesliga).

With an average age of 25 years and 85 days, VfB Stuttgart have the youngest starting XI in the Bundesliga this season, while VfL Bochum’s is the oldest (28Y, 132D). Stuttgart have named a player aged under 24 in their starting line-up 55 times, a league high. VfL Bochum have done so on just 11 occasions – only FC Augsburg have done it less often (7 times).

This is VfB Stuttgart’s third home game in a row in all competitions, but they have lost their last two (3-2 to Frankfurt, 2-0 to Atalanta). Prior to these defeats, the Swabians had enjoyed a 20-game unbeaten run at home in all competitions spanning a year (W14, D6).

VfL Bochum are still winless after the opening 10 matchdays of a Bundesliga season for the first time. Two points from 10 games is also their worst record in the top flight. Of the previous 17 teams in league history to be winless after the first 10 matchdays, five still managed to avoid relegation (29%), most recently Werder Bremen in 2017/18 (first won on MD12).

VfL Bochum have lost all five of their Bundesliga away games this season and are the only team without a point on their travels. They have also conceded the most away goals by far, shipping 17 in five games (3.4 on average).