Will Castroper Straße remain a fortress?
On Thursday, RB Leipzig hosted Real Sociedad San Sebastian in the Europa League in Spain and came out on top. But the real lion’s den awaits on Sunday in the Bundesliga. There, the Bullen will be guests at Castroper Straße in Bochum. Domenico Tedesco can ask Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann how high the stakes are there.
Bochum are extremely strong at home and that is the reason why the promoted team has moved up to eleventh place in the table. Thomas Reis’ team has collected a strong 29 points and currently has a cushion of seven points on the relegation zone. The direct relegation places are even ten points away. There is no reason for the Revierklub to complain.
The opponents from Leipzig do not want to settle for this kind of territory in the standings. For a long time, they had problems and found themselves in mediocrity. In the meantime, however, the Saxons are once again the usual top team and that is why the betting providers tested in the duel between Bochum and RB Leipzig are clearly predicting a victory for the visitors.
This could also have something to do with the fact that RB has never lost to a promoted team in the Bundesliga. In the 22 duels against newcomers so far, the Saxons have won 19 and drawn three. That can make VfL feel queasy. Nevertheless, we think there is something in it for the home side and can imagine placing a tip on a point win for the Revierklub between Bochum and RB Leipzig.
Bochum – Statistics & current form
VfL Bochum are really enjoying themselves this season. As a promoted team, Thomas Reis’ team has enriched the Bundesliga and especially in their own stadium, the Revierklub is a power. They have only lost two home games this season, both against Berlin clubs Union and Hertha. Can Leipzig, as an East German club, join the ranks of those who have defeated VfL? VfL have picked up 21 of their 29 points at home.
Whoever beats Bayern can beat Leipzig
Furthermore, Bochum have been unbeaten for four games. Among others, there was this sensational 4:2 home win against Bayern. No other team is currently undefeated in the top flight. And whoever beats Bayern can also beat RB. That’s why we can even imagine playing the odds on a home win between Bochum and RB Leipzig.
Last weekend, Bochum had the all-important match at relegation candidate Stuttgart in front of their chest. They wanted at least one point to keep their lead in the red zone. VfB led 1:0 for a long time, but it was only in injury time that Eduard Löwen scored a penalty to level the score at 1-1.
Elvis Rexhbecaj is expected to be back in the starting eleven on Sunday after the midfielder had to serve a yellow suspension in Stuttgart. Sebastian Polter and Eduard Löwen are also candidates for the starting line-up after performing well as wild cards in Stuttgart. The only injury absentee remains Simon Zoller, who is in rehabilitation training after tearing his cruciate ligament.
Predicted line-up of Bochum:
Riemann – Gamboa, Bella Kotchap, Leitsch, Danilo Soares – Losilla – Asano, Löwen, Rexhbecaj, Holtmann – Polter – Coach: Reis
Last matches played by Bochum:
1st Bundesliga
02/19 2022 – VfB Stuttgart 1 – 1 Vfl Bochum
02/12 2022 – Vfl Bochum 4 – 2 Bayern Munich
02/04 2022 – Hertha Berlin 1 – 1 Vfl Bochum
Club friendlies
01/27 2022 – Vfl Bochum 0 – 2 Fortuna Düsseldorf
1st Bundesliga
01/22 2022 – Vfl Bochum 2 – 2 1. FC Köln
RB Leipzig – Statistics & current form
The Bullen have shown unprecedented weaknesses for a long time this season. However, after parting ways with two coaches and hiring Domenico Tedesco as manager, the successes have also returned. In the Europa League, the Saxons are in the last 16, in the DFB Cup they have already reached the quarter-finals and with fourth place in the Bundesliga, one has to speak of a successful season so far.
Best Bundesliga team in 2022
Leipzig have won five of their six Bundesliga games in 2022, making them the most successful Bundesliga team in this calendar year. 19 own goals also mean an average of more than three RB goals per game. From this, it can be deduced that a prediction of more than 2.5 goals is certainly mandatory between Bochum and RB Leipzig.
Last weekend, the Saxons celebrated their highest away win in the Bundesliga with a 6-1 win in Berlin. There have not yet been two away victories in a row in the top flight this season. On Thursday, they had to play the difficult match in San Sebastian. A win was needed to keep them in the Europa League draw.
After goals from Willi Orban, Andre Silva and Emil Forsberg, Leipzig won 3:1 and made it into the next round. However, this performance will also have cost them energy. So Domenico Tedesco will possibly rely more on fresh personnel on Sunday. The injured Marcel Halstenberg and the suspended Josko Gvardiol will certainly be absent.
Predicted line-up of RB Leipzig:
Gulacsi – Klostermann, Orban, Simakan – Henrichs, Adams, Haidara, Angelino – Szoboszlai, Forsberg – Poulsen – Coach: Tedesco
Last matches played by RB Leipzig:
Europa League Final Stage
02/24 2022 – San Sebastian 1 – 3 RB Leipzig
1st Bundesliga
02/20 2022 – Hertha Berlin 1 – 6 RB Leipzig
Europa League Final Stage
02/17 2022 – RB Leipzig 2 – 2 San Sebastian
1st Bundesliga
02/11 2022 – RB Leipzig 3 – 1 1. FC Köln
02/05 2022 – Bayern Munich 3 – 2 RB Leipzig
Bochum – RB Leipzig Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
The history books contain just six games between VfL Bochum and RB Leipzig. Four times they faced each other in the second Bundesliga. The two rivals played one match in the DFB Cup and the first leg in the current Bundesliga season. The Revierklub will not like to look at the direct comparison.
RB Leipzig has won all six games so far, some of them very clearly. The Bullen also won the first leg at the Red Bull Arena by a clear 3:0, with Andre Silva and Christopher Nkunku scoring twice. However, that was also another time for the Bochum side and now the match will be played at Castroper Straße.
Bochum – RB Leipzig tip
VfL Bochum will be looking to build on their recent good games and continue their run of four unbeaten games. After all, there were many successful games at Castroper Straße and VfL took 21 of 29 points in their own stadium. Among others, FC Bayern was also defeated there. So the Bochum team is by no means without a chance in this match.
However, Leipzig are a team in very good form, having just reached the last 16 of the Europa League and won five of their six Bundesliga games in 2022. They have also won all six of their previous games against VfL.
However, we are impressed by the performances Bochum put in at their own stadium and are therefore surprised that the quotes on a home win are so extremely high. That’s why we also associate value with it. Nevertheless, we try to reduce the risk and have decided to play the betting odds on the double chance 1X between Bochum and Leipzig.
