Does Bochum defy the odds?
The 27th matchday in the Bundesliga will open next Friday with the match Bochum vs Gladbach. According to the odds, the guests from the Lower Rhine are even classified as favorites. However, the table picture says otherwise, as the promoted team still ranks ahead of the actual European Cup contenders in the standings, who are lagging behind their own expectations, but at least go into this encounter with the recommendation of the home win from the previous week against Hertha.
A number of teams have already learned that the stakes are pretty high at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion this season. Among others, FC Bayern also lost at the surprisingly strong VfL, which, considering its nine-point lead over the first relegation spot, can already start intensive planning for the coming season in Germany’s top division.
Although the home side are plagued by personnel problems ahead of Friday night’s match, we think that between Bochum and Gladbach a prediction on the double chance 1X could make sense. Coach Adi Hütter’s team has failed to convince away from home in the recent past, so betting on a success for the Foals would involve a certain risk. Instead, we trust the Rice eleven with at least a draw.
Bochum – statistics & current form
VfL Bochum have already picked up 32 points this season. In the remaining eight matchdays, it needs just another eight points to reach the magic 40-point mark. Even if this is not achieved, everything points to the promoted team staying in the league. At this late stage, only one Bundesliga team – Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2012/13 – has lost a nine-point lead over the relegation zone.
However, the Ruhr team’s relegation worries are limited, as coach Thomas Reis’ team has been too consistent so far this season. Especially in their own stadium, the Bochum team is very difficult to beat.
The VfL has been hit…
24 of the 32 points mentioned were earned by VfL in front of their home crowd. Eighth place in the home table with only three defeats in 13 home games underscores this thesis and at the same time provides a plausible argument for betting on the host to win a point between Bochum and Gladbach.
Only the personnel situation could have a negative impact on the performance of the blue and white, because during the week some players tested positive. Also dewy-eyed is the news that head coach Reis will also not be available on Friday night.
We are therefore not going too far out on a limb when we claim that in the duel Bochum vs Gladbach, the odds on the 1X could still grow right up to kick-off. Therefore, it may still require a little patience to pick up the best quotes. So far it is certain that Blum, Danilo Soares, Gamboa, Pantovic, Leitsch, Tesche and Zoller will not be able to play. However, the end of the line has not yet been reached in this respect. Nevertheless, the eleventh-placed team in the table looks extremely stable, structured and disciplined. With the supporters behind them, anything seems possible.
Predicted lineup of Bochum:
Riemann – Bockhorn, Masovic, Bella Kotchap, Stafylidis – Losilla – Osterhage, Rexhbecaj – Antwi-Adjei, Holtmann – Polter
Last matches played by Bochum:
Bundesliga
03/13 2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 2 – 1 VfL Bochum
03/05 2022 – VfL Bochum 2 – 1 Greuther Fürth
DFB Cup
03/02 2022 – VfL Bochum 1 – 2 SC Freiburg
Bundesliga
02/27 2022 – VfL Bochum 0 – 1 RB Leipzig
02/19 2022 – VfB Stuttgart 1 – 1 VfL Bochum
Gladbach – statistics & current form
At Borussia from Mönchengladbach, one hopes weekly that the knot finally bursts. Admittedly, the Foals need not only a good game, but at best a small winning streak to improve in the standings on the one hand, and on the other hand to silence the numerous disturbing noises in the environment. The start of such a positive run was made last weekend in the 2-0 home win against Hertha.
However, it will now be interesting to see whether the team of coach Adi Hütter, who was deputized by his assistant Christian Peintinger last Saturday, finally gets both feet on the ground away from home. Eight of the 13 away matches so far have been lost by the team from the Lower Rhine. In these 13 matches in opposing stadiums, they have already conceded 30 goals. Apart from Fürth, Gladbach is the only team that has not yet managed to score a goal away from home.
Gladbach struggles against away trend
In view of these figures, which do not inspire much confidence, and the fact that Borussia last won a Bundesliga match away from home at the beginning of October before their win at FC Bayern to open the second half of the season, we are not willing to make a prediction on the visitors’ treble between Bochum and Gladbach. In addition, the former German champion has now not won at VfL for nine guest games in the top flight (six defeats, three draws). This negative streak could increase to double digits in matches on Friday.
In terms of personnel, the Austrian coach can almost draw from a full complement. Only Elvedi, Doucoure and Hofmann are still missing. Lars Stindl, on the other hand, is set to make his comeback. From the start, however, the offensive hopes will rest on Alassane Plea, who has been involved in five goals in the last three games.
In addition, the Niederrheinländer would be well advised to score in the first 45 minutes as well. 64% of all goals scored by the Foals came before the break. It’s just a shame that the Bochum side only conceded 15 goals before the break, making them one of the most stable defensively in the first half. Nevertheless, this neutralized strength is another indication to bet on the promoted team.
Predicted lineup of Gladbach:
Sommer – Ginter, Friedrich, Beyer – Lainer, Neuhaus, Koné, Bensebaini – Plea, Thuram – Embolo
Last games played by Gladbach:
Bundesliga
03/12 2022 – Gladbach 2 – 0 Hertha BSC
03/05 2022 – VfB Stuttgart 3 – 2 Gladbach
02/26 2022 – Gladbach 2 – 2 VfL Wolfsburg
02/20 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 6 – 0 Gladbach
02/12 2022 – Gladbach 3 – 2 Augsburg
Bochum – Gladbach Direct comparison / H2H balance
In the first leg this season, Gladbach won 2-1 against Bochum in front of their home crowd. After 15 (!) meetings in the top flight in which VfL did not lose to Borussia, this ended an almost unbelievable series. Away from home, on the other hand, the Foals’ drought is still going on. As mentioned, in the past nine away games, they have not managed a single win in the Ruhr. Will it stay that way?
Bochum – Gladbach tip
It is rarely the case that so much new information is added in the course of a written article. Almost hourly, the starting position for this duel is changing at the moment. In particular, the personnel problems on the side of the home side, including the absence of coach Thomas Reis, could have a lasting impact on the betting odds between Bochum and Gladbach. Therefore, the top priority is to check the corresponding quotes when placing a bet.
In the following, we assume that there will be no further positive cases at VfL and that the Ruhrpottler will be able to field a team that has caused a sensation in recent weeks and months. Against this backdrop, there is much to suggest in our eyes that at least one point will remain in the Ruhr.
Gladbach have lost eight of their 13 away games this season, conceded an average of more than two goals and have won just one away game in the Bundesliga since the start of October (2-1 at FC Bayern). To make matters worse, the Foals are anything but fond of traveling to Bochum in the top flight.
