BOCHUM FACT FILE
Friday, 15. December 2017, 12:00 Uhr
FC St. Pauli play host to VfL Bochum in the final league contest of the year on Monday evening (2030 CET). As usual, we've put together a few facts and figures on our forthcoming opponents.
From caretaker to head coach
VfL Bochum made their second change at the helm already this season when they dismissed head coach Ismail Atalan in mid-October. Jens Rasiejewski, who made 26 appearances (one goal) for the club in the 2002/03 season, took temporary charge and was eventually given the job on a permanent basis after the recent 2-1 home win over Union Berlin. The 42-year-old put pen to paper on a deal tying him to the club until the summer of 2019.
Tight ship
Under Rasiejewski, Bochum have rediscovered their defensive stability after shipping 15 goals in the first nine games. The Ruhr outfit have conceded just four in their last eight outings – fewer than any other team since matchday 10. Bochum have kept four clean sheets in this time.
Vulnerable early on
Bochum conceded 19 goals in the first half of the season, which translates into the fourth-tightest defence in the league. If we take only the first 30 minutes of every game into account, however, they sit bottom of the rankings with ten goals conceded. League leaders Holstein Kiel and FC Ingolstadt 04 have shipped nine goals in the opening half-hour, while the Boys in Brown have let in seven.
Youthful influence
In Maxim Leitsch, Görkem Saglam and Vitaly Janelt, Bochum have fielded three of the ten youngest players in the league this season. Leitsch was 19 years, three months and three days old when he appeared in the 2-0 defeat against Arminia Bielefeld in week three. Saglam and Janelt were 14 days older when they ran out in the 1-0 defeat against the Boys in Brown on matchday 1 and the 3-2 win over Dynamo Dresden in round 4 respectively.
Hinterseer's late winners
Lukas Hinterseer, who joined the club from FC Ingolstadt 04 in summer, made 15 appearances in the first half of the season and scored four goals – all of them at home. Two of these goals were good for three points. Hinterseer scored an 88th minute winner in the 3-2 defeat of Dynamo Dresden in week 4, and on matchday 16 he struck in the 87th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Union Berlin.
Photos: Eibner
