VfL Bochum vs. 1. FC Nürnberg

Preview, team news and predicted lineups as Bochum welcome Nürnberg to the Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Friday evening (18:30 CET).

VfL Bochum 

Bochum have flourished under Uwe Rösler. Since taking charge, the former forward has overseen just one defeat in his first 14 matches, guiding the club comfortably away from danger and up to ninth in the table. A nine-game unbeaten run – bettered only by Darmstadt – underlines their consistency.

Yet there remains a lingering frustration: too many draws. Rösler’s side have often controlled matches without translating dominance into maximum points. That trend continued last time out against promotion-chasing Paderborn. Bochum dictated proceedings and fashioned several clear opportunities, but an inspired performance from visiting goalkeeper Dennis Seimen ensured a goalless stalemate and another case of “what might have been.”

Rösler is clear that performances alone are not enough:

“We’re not patting ourselves on the back for our football or the chances we’ve created. We know we have to deliver to generate points and wins. Therefore, in our daily work, we need to reinforce the positives and continue working on our weaknesses,” 

Home form offers encouragement. Bochum are unbeaten in their last five matches at the Ruhrstadion, and Rösler himself is yet to taste defeat against Nürnberg across his two previous managerial meetings with the Franconians.

Team news:

Philipp Strompf and Koji Miyoshi are both suspended, while Ibrahima Sissoko remains unavailable due to injury. Kevin Vogt and Matúš Bero are expected to return to the squad.

Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): 

Horn (GK) – Morgalla, Loosli, Masovic, Wittek – Lenz, Pannewig – Alfa-Ruprecht, Onyeka, Holtmann – Hofmann 

1. FC Nürnberg 

Nürnberg continue to make steady progress under Miroslav Klose, maintaining a healthy buffer over the relegation zone and sitting eighth in the standings. Despite a patchy start to 2026, the club hierarchy showed their belief in Klose by extending his contract through to 2028 – a move that appears to have galvanised both coach and squad.

That renewed confidence was evident in last weekend’s emphatic 5-1 demolition of Karlsruher SC. Julian Justvan set the tone with a rapid-fire brace before Mohamed Ali Zoma stole the spotlight, completing a clinical hat-trick to cap an outstanding attacking display.

Zoma’s challenge now is to replicate that form on the road, where he is yet to score this season. Klose is hopeful the breakthrough is imminent:

“We analyzed the KSC game with him just like any other. I hope he takes a lot of confidence from this and that he’ll start scoring away from home now,”

Indeed, for Nürnberg as whole their away form remains a concern. They have lost their last four league matches away from the Max-Morlock-Stadion, a run they will be eager to halt in Bochum. There is, however, positive precedent: they edged the reverse fixture on matchday six, claiming a dramatic 2-1 victory courtesy of Adriano Grimaldi’s late winner.

Team news: 

Eryk Grzywacz and Henri Koudossou are still unable, while Rafael Lubach is suspended. 

Predicted lineup (4-3-1-2): 

Reichert (GK) – von der Hitz, Gruber, Lochoshvili, Yilmaz – Markhiev, Becker, Nzingoula – Justvan – Zoma, Grimaldi