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THE FACTS
When is Hertha Berlin vs Bochum on and what time does it start? Hertha Berlin vs Bochum will take place on Saturday 20th May, 2023 – 14:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Hertha Berlin vs Bochum? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Hertha Berlin vs Bochum on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to German Bundesliga matches in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for Hertha Berlin vs Bochum
Where can I stream Hertha Berlin vs Bochum in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, Hertha Berlin vs Bochum can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
HERTHA BERLIN
As it stands, Hertha Berlin are sat cut adrift at the bottom of the Bundesliga and five points behind 16th-placed Schalke 04, which makes the equation fairly simple from their point of view. Failure to beat Bochum here would see the two-time German champions relegated with a game to spare, sending them back down to the 2. Bundesliga, ten years since they won the same competition back in the 2012-13 season. Even victory may not be enough to save them if other results go against them, but the only result they can control is their own and with home advantage the other crowd will expect a positive one.
Those supporters hoping that their nail-biting 2-1 triumph against Stuttgart would prove to be a turning point were left disappointed as Hertha’s backline dramatically caved in at RheinEnergieStadion. At one point, Hertha led 1-2 away to Koln and the ‘great escape’ felt realistically. That was as good as it got though, with Koln proceeding to score four goals without reply, beating Hertha 5-2 to leave them staring down the barrel of relegation. Whilst Hertha can at least take the positive of having netted twice in consecutive Bundesliga matches, they simply must tighten up defensively if they are to stand a chance of three points here.
BOCHUM
Whilst Bochum’s position is nowhere near as dire as their opponents, they are just as firmly entrenched in the relegation battle. However, a thrilling 3-2 victory against Augsburg last weekend took them out of the bottom three with teams around them failing to win. After taking the lead through Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Augsburg equalised just before the half-hour mark, leaving the match delicately posed at half-time. The hosts came out of the traps firing in the second period and netted two quick-fire goals to give themselves a priceless cushion. A late goal back from Augsburg kept the visitors interested but Bochum hung on to secure what was their first Bundesliga win in seven games.
The big question now is whether Bochum can back this up away from home. Failure to gain three points in the German capital could well leave them with their fate out of their own hands come the final weekend of the season, but Bochum are without a clean sheet in their last seven and are likely to face an offensive barrage from Hertha, who cannot afford anything other than victory. The reverse fixture between the two sides saw Bochum triumphant by three goals to one, Philipp Hofmann scoring twice either side of Keven Schlotterbeck’s header.
THE TEAM NEWS
HERTHA BERLIN
Forward Jessic Ngankam remains unavailable for Hertha Berlin due to suspension, whilst a concussion suffered by defender Filip Uremovic against FC Cologne should rule him out of this one. Agustin Rogel is likely to take his place in the starting XI alongside Marc-Oliver Kempf in the centre of defence. From an attacking point of view, Hertha don’t have as many worries and as such, we may not see any changes in that department.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Christensen; Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Dardai; Lukebakio, Niederlechner, Richter; Jovetic
UNAVAILABLE: Ngankam (Suspended), Nsona (Injured), Uremovic (concussion)
QUESTIONABLE: Cigerci (Injured)
BOCHUM
Thomas Letsch will have a decision to make on who to start at left-back with both Dominique Heintz and Danilo Soares vying for a place in that position. Patrick Osterhage misses out through injury, whilst Moritz Broschinski and Kostas Stafylidis are both doubtful with tonsillitis and a shoulder injury respectively, the latter having suffered the problem in Bochum’s last match.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Riemann; Janko, Ordets, Masovic, Heintz; Losilla, Stoger; Asano, Forster, Antwi-Adjei; Hofmann
UNAVAILABLE: Osterhage (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Broschinski (Illness), Stafylidis (Injured)