Bochum still strong at home?
After many years of abstinence, VfL Bochum is back in the Bundesliga this season. From there, they put off an anniversary for many years, but it was inevitable. In the first leg in Cologne, the Bochum side conceded their 500th defeat in the Bundesliga. On Saturday, Thomas Reis’ team will now get the opportunity for revenge.
The match between VfL and Effzeh is a duel in the league’s mediocrity. The Revierklub is currently in eleventh place and has 23 points.
Cologne are ninth and have five points more than VfL on their credit side. The 28 points mean that the Rhinelanders have picked up ten more points than at the same point in the pre-season. However, this does not mean that we would now predict a win for the visitors in the clash between Bochum and Cologne.
Bochum are extremely strong in their own stadium. Cologne have delivered a decent performance away from home recently. That certainly doesn’t make it any easier to find the right tip for the match between Bochum and Cologne. However, it sounds as if a bet on goals from both teams would be a decent choice.
Bochum – Statistics & current form
Somehow, some of the numbers don’t look like VfL are in eleventh place in the Bundesliga. Thomas Reis’ team has already conceded ten defeats in this one. That is the second-weakest record in the Bundesliga. Only bottom-placed Greuther Fürth left the pitch as losers more often. However, there are also statistics that really encourage the VfL.
Strong home record of VfL
17 of the 23 points won by the Bochum side at Castroper Straße. In addition, the two Bundesliga teams Augsburg and Mainz were eliminated at home in the DFB Cup. All in all, there has only been one defeat in the last ten home games. We can therefore imagine playing the odds on a home win between Bochum and Cologne.
During the week, the aforementioned round of 16 match in the DFB Cup against Mainz 05 was on the agenda. The visitors led 1-0 at the break, but VfL turned up the heat in the second period and secured a deserved 3-1 victory in the end. Once again, it was Milos Pantovic who was the match-winner with his brace. Eduard Löwen was also successful.
It could have been a very special game for Simon Zoller, but the attacker is still out after tearing his cruciate ligament. However, he is the only player who will not be available to Thomas Reis. The team could be reshuffled – depending on how well the cup match on Tuesday was physically coped with.
Predicted line-up of Bochum:
Riemann – Stafylidis, Bella Kotchap, Leitsch, Danilo Soares – Losilla – Löwen, Rexhbecaj, Pantovic, Holtmann – Locadia – Coach: Reis
Last matches played by Bochum:
DFB Cup
01/18 2022 – Vfl Bochum 3 – 1 Mainz 05
1st Bundesliga
01/15 2022 – Mainz 05 1 – 0 Vfl Bochum
01/09 2022 – Vfl Bochum 1 – 0 Vfl Wolfsburg
12/18 2021 – Vfl Bochum 0 – 1 Union Berlin
12/14 2021 – Arminia Bielefeld 2 – 0 Vfl Bochum
Cologne – Statistics & current form
When you see that 1. FC Köln are in a much better position than they were a year ago, then it becomes clear that Steffen Baumgart fits the Rhinelanders like a glove. However, his team also has to accept setbacks here and there. The Geißböcke are still far from being a top team, but the European Cup can perhaps be set as a goal.
Cup out in the minds
Especially header monster Anthony Modeste gives hope for a successful season in the end. In addition, the Effzeh have performed quite well away from home in recent weeks. Cologne have not lost any of their last four away games in the top flight. This could be an indication to make a prediction on a point win for the visitors between Bochum and Cologne.
However, Steffen Baumgart’s team has to cope with the cup exit against HSV. Hamburg took the lead in extra time, but Anthony Modeste equalised with a penalty in the final seconds. In the penalty shoot-out that followed, Florian Kainz was unlucky to make double contact with the ball, denying them a place in the quarter-finals.
After such a bitter defeat, it is difficult to clear the heads quickly. We can assume that Steffen Baumgart will now rotate some of the regular players into the team who were initially on the bench against HSV. Only Timo Horn, who is ill, and Ellyes Skhiri, who is still in contention for the Africa Cup, will be missing.
Predicted line-up of Cologne:
Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Kilian, Hector – Özcan, Ljubicic, Kainz, Duda – Modeste, Uth – Coach: Baumgart
Last matches played by Köln:
DFB Pokal
01/18 2022 – 1. FC Köln (3)1 – 1(4) Hamburger SV
1st Bundesliga
01/15 2022 – 1. FC Köln 0 – 4 Bayern München
01/09 2022 – Hertha Berlin 1 – 3 1. FC Köln
12/19 2021 – 1. FC Köln 1 – 0 VfB Stuttgart
12/14 2021 – Vfl Wolfsburg 2 – 3 1. FC Köln
Bochum – Cologne Direct comparison / H2H-Balance
Since the mid-1950s, VfL Bochum and 1. FC Köln have been very frequent companions and have played together in the same league. A total of 87 games have been played to date. The direct comparison is a more than clear-cut matter for the Rhinelanders, who have the edge after victories with 51:15. A further 18 matches ended in a draw.
In the Bundesliga, VfL has been waiting for a win against the Effzeh for five games. Bochum’s last success came in April 2004, when Peter Neururer was still coach. The Geißböcke won the first leg in the cathedral city 2-1, with Louis Schaub and Tim Lemperle giving them a 2-0 lead. Simon Zoller only managed the final goal.
Bochum – Cologne tip
The facts before the clash between VfL Bochum and 1. FC Köln are anything but clear. For a start, the Revierklub has been waiting 17 years in the Bundesliga for a win against the Geißböcke, even if this long period is due to the fact that VfL spent many years kicking around in the second division.
If we look at the current form, Cologne have not lost in the top flight for four away games. However, there are also some aspects that speak in favour of the home side leaving the pitch as winners. Thomas Reis’ team have won seven of their last ten home games, losing only once.
In addition, VfL built up a broad chest in the cup on Tuesday. Cologne, on the other hand, lost in extremely bitter fashion at home to HSV. So the head is also rather in favour of the Revierklub. That is why we have decided to play the betting odds on a home win between Bochum and Cologne.
