DFB Cup
BVB ahead of Derby in Bochum ahead of “pioneering weeks”
Is required with Dortmund in Bochum: BVB coach Edin Terzic. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
BVB has won the last four Bundesliga games and VfL Bochum the last five home games. This starting position promises an exciting cup round of 16 of the unequal district neighbors.
Back on course in the Bundesliga, facing tricky knockout duels in the Cup and Champions League: the time for great challenges is beginning for Borussia Dortmund. “We are now coming up with landmark weeks.
We want to keep everything open for as long as possible,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl, full of hope for a continuation of the recent high in the cup round of 16 on Wednesday (8.45 p.m. / ZDF and Sky) at home strong VfL Bochum.
After the splendid start to the new year with four Bundesliga victories in a row, the belief in one’s own strength is back. With another sense of achievement at the district neighbors only 17 kilometers away, the team could gain additional courage for the next knockout task in the premier class against Chelsea FC, which reinforced in winter at great financial expense, a week later. “I have the feeling that something is growing together. We are becoming more stable overall in the processes and in the community among ourselves. That ensures that Zug is in it,” praised Kehl.
Prevent early exit
Last year, BVB felt the negative effects that an early cup exit can have on the further course of the season. The 1: 2 in the round of 16 at the second division St. Pauli was followed in the Europa League duel with Glasgow Rangers (2: 4 / 2: 2) by the next disillusionment.
Coach Edin Terzic, who has to do without the suspended Karim Adeymi, wants to avoid a duplication of events at all costs. He urged his team to show a lot of passion in the heated atmosphere, but to keep a cool head: “We have to use our strengths to steer the game to our side so that it doesn’t get too wild and chaotic. Then it’s likely that we move on to the next round.”
The 40-year-old reacted cautiously to the recent positive headlines about his up-and-coming team: “We can assess that very realistically. We’re not as good as we’re made out to be. And we weren’t as bad as we were made out to be.”
BVB is well advised to approach the task in Bochum with great concentration. After all, under the direction of new coach Thomas Letsch, VfL has developed into a home power with five wins in five games. Even top teams like Eintracht Frankfurt (0:3) and Union Berlin (1:2) felt the effects.
Self-confident citizens of Bochum
The successor to Thomas Reis also promised BVB bitter resistance. “We have nothing to lose. There is only one reason to play a cup game: to get through,” said Letsch. He urged his team to take a bold step: “It’s a duel between David and Goliath. But the idea of security here in a home game in a round of 16 would be the wrong approach. Without courage and risk we certainly won’t have a chance.”
The duel between the two Schlotterbeck brothers provides additional explosiveness. “It’s a great game. And yes, why not beat BVB when you’re ready?” Said VfL winter transfer Keven Schlotterbeck on Sky. The prospect of a showdown with his brother Nico increases motivation: “Of course you try to spur yourself on a bit so that you can get the most out of yourself.”
With all due respect for the third-placed player in the Bundesliga, anticipation prevails for the central defender: “You have to beat VfL Bochum in front of a home crowd first. The way, the intensity, the mentality that we bring to the pitch at home is very good. Of course it will be difficult for any opponent here because the stadium is small and compact.”
Expected Lineups:
VfL Bochum: Riemann – Janko, Masovic, K. Schlotterbeck, Danilo Soares – Förster, Losilla – Stöger – Asano, Antwi-Adjei – P. Hofmann
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro – Can – Brandt, Bellingham, Reus, Bynoe-Gittens – Haller
Referee: Stieler (Hamburg)