VfL Bochum vs. VfB Stuttgart DFB-Pokal preview: Team news and predicted lineups

Bochum welcome DFB-Pokal holders VfB Stuttgart to the Ruhrstadion, as they look to cause an upset against a Stuttgart side with their tails between their legs after a late defeat against Hamburg.

Bochum were relegated from the Bundesliga last term under previous Pokal winner Dieter Hecking, who would go on to be sacked just over a month into the current 2. Bundesliga season.

The experienced Uwe Rösler would take over at the club, since guiding Bochum to 12th in the standings, with VfL picking up 13 of their 16 points under Rösler.

Both relegated sides have struggled in the second tier thus far, with Holstein Kiel sitting a place below Bochum in 13th, signalling just how competitive Germany's second tier has become.

The hosts come into the clash in high spirits after securing a fantastic 3-0 away win against Greuter Fürth over the weekend.

Stuttgart, on the other hand, come into the midweek clash stunned.

Despite having a man advantage and a free-kick in an advantageous position in the dying stages at Hamburg, Fabio Viera would send Volksparkstadion into raptures as he netted following a sensational breakaway.

VfB are well in the race for Champions League football, though they simply cannot afford to drop points with the likes of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt still to play before the start of the Rückrunde.

Team News

Bochum enter this clash with no fresh injury concerns. Both Ibrahim Sissoko and Matus Bero are expected to return in the coming weeks, while Kevin Vogt is not expected back until March.

Stuttgart, though, arrive with plenty of worries.

The longer-term injury to Ermedin Demirovic has been known for some time, and the Bosnian forward is not expected to return until the new year. While Dan-Axel Zagadou's recovery continues to come to a halt, after making his return after a long-term absence last month.

Yannik Keitel and Justin Diehl will also continue their respective periods on the sidelines.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the cup tie, Hoeneß revealed that defender Luca Jaquez has “suffered a serious muscle injury,” and that the Swiss youngster “won't be available for the rest of the year.”

Tiago Tomas has also missed matches recently, with the situation described as “tight,” while Chris Führich will be assessed ahead of the clash on Wednesday as he looks to feature in his boyhood Ruhr region.

Predicted lineups

Bochum - 4-2-3-1: Horn - Morgalla, Loosli, Strompf, Wittek - Lenz, Pannewig - Alfa-Ruprecht, Onyeka, Kwarteng - Hofmann

Stuttgart - 3-4-3: Bredlow - Jeltsch, Al Dakhil, Hendriks - Assignon, Karazor, Stiller, Mittelstädt - El Khannouss, Leweling - Undav