VfL Bochum – FSV Mainz 05

Recent form · Written before the match

Bochum are coming off a 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg on 23 October 2026, with 19 shots, five of them on target. Mainz lost 2-3 at home to Werder on 24 October, after conceding two penalties in the first 25 minutes and a transition goal, while applying strong pressure in the second half.

The rest period was comparable, with approximately three days between the last league match and this one. No homogeneous, recent, and verifiable xG set has been established.

Head-to-head · Written before the match

Two cup precedents are documented: a Bochum victory on penalties in December 2020, followed by a 3-1 Bochum victory in January 2022. These encounters are old, and both the squads and coaches have changed; they constitute a precedent, but their current prédictive valeur is limited.

Absences and returns

Bochum confirmed on October 26, 2026, that Enis Cokaj, Jean-Manuel Mbom, Babis Drakas, Philipp Strompf and Oliver Olsen were not fit for the matchday squad. Mainz’s absences and suspensions have not been confirmed.

The detailed medical status of the unavailable players and the final lineup remain uncertain.

Context & news

Mainz can impose its compact 5-3-2, defend between the lines and then look for Tietz or Becker in the spaces behind a high press. Conversely, Bochum can rely on the crowd, a compact block and quick transitions to exploit the turnovers observed from Mainz against Werder; this scenario depends on its ability to limit turnovers in central areas and convert its chances.

The winner qualifies for the round of 16, with no first-leg score.