Viktoria Berlin vs Bochum

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark is the venue as lower-league side Viktoria Berlin and Bundesliga outfit Bochum go head-to-head in the opening DFB Pokal round.

A thoroughly underwhelming 2021/22 3. Liga season saw Viktoria Berlin suffer relegation to Germany’s fourth tier, finishing just three points adrift of safety. But after going winless in their opening two pre-season friendlies, they have won back-to-back exhibition fixtures to bolster their spirits ahead of a curtain-raising DFB Pokal clash against Bochum. Viktoria Berlin’s showings in competitive home matches in 2022 have flattered to deceive, as Farat Toku’s men have picked up just two victories from nine such contests (D2, L5). More importantly, Viktoria’s lacklustre defending has seen them keep only one clean sheet in that nine-game sequence, casting doubt on their ability to fend off top-flight opposition Bochum.

Meanwhile, visiting Bochum defied every expectation in their first Bundesliga season since 2009/10 last term to secure survival with a few games to spare. The visitors’ exhausting pre-season campaign featured just two defeats from nine exhibition fixtures (W5, D2), suggesting they have stayed on the right path. Interestingly, since a 1-1 draw away to Stuttgart in mid-February, ‘Die Unabsteigbaren’ have alternated between losing (3) and winning (2) across their subsequent five competitive road trips. Each game won/lost during that period saw the winner net 2+ goals, highlighting the importance of the prolificacy in the front third. That’s particularly significant for Bochum, as they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 competitive away games.