Will Bochum take the fight game more?

There are currently three teams in the Bundesliga who have just one win to their name after twelve matchdays. These include VfL Bochum, who, unlike Cologne and Mainz, are above the line and have suffered the fewest defeats in the bottom half of the table (four). After four unbeaten games in a row recently, the Blue & Whites want to confirm their upward trend and also score in the penultimate home game of the 2023 calendar year, at best even three times

In view of the fact that the majority of all VfL matches this season have ended in a draw (seven), betting on a home win between Bochum and Wolfsburg on Saturday seems rather risky. However, the home side from the Ruhr do not necessarily need to fear the visitors from the Autostadt, as the Wolves have recently conceded five away defeats in a row and currently only have six points more in the standings

We shouldn’t expect a top-class game of soccer at the Ruhrstadion this weekend, because after the onset of winter in the past few days and due to the already heavily worn turf, there will be virtually no alternative but to adapt your own game and risk with the ball to the conditions. As Thomas Letsch’s system is based on long balls and second balls anyway, we believe the emotional home side have a relatively clear advantage. Ahead of the match between Bochum and Wolfsburg, our prediction is therefore more in favor of the relegation candidates, who are clearly stronger at home than away

Bochum – Statistics & current form

At VfL Bochum, calm and contentment are the order of the day. Although the Bundesliga team only has ten points to its name after twelve matchdays, it is still above the bottom line. Their record of one win, seven draws and only four defeats also underlines the fact that the blue and whites are an uncomfortable opponent who regularly come close to their own maximum performance and make up for what is in many cases a qualitative inferiority with a great deal of passion, emotion and commitment.

Because the players, coaching team, fans and board can fully identify with the soccer on show, the belief that the team can once again avoid relegation is unbroken. In order to express their unwavering confidence, those responsible decided during the week to extend coach Thomas Letsch’s contract, which expires at the end of the season, early until 2026. The reasons for this are obvious, as the 55-year-old has not only given this team a suitable style of play and anchored simple principles in the minds of the players, but also enjoys a great standing within the club thanks to his unpretentious, combative approach.

Bochum only lost one home game in 2023/24

VfL remained completely undefeated in the last four matchdays. Although only the away game in Darmstadt (2:1) was won in this period, the three draws have ensured that they have not lost in four consecutive Bundesliga games for the first time in almost 15 years. There should therefore be no lack of confidence on Saturday, especially as Bochum have been playing their game with merciless conviction and consistency for many months now.

Another positive aspect to highlight is that the Blue & Whites are extremely difficult to beat at home. Of their five home matches to date, only the encounter against Borussia Mönchengladbach was lost 3:1 after a botched first half. The other four games in front of the home fans all ended in draws, including against BVB and Eintracht Frankfurt. Takuma Asano and Co. were always able to score at least one goal of their own.

In our eyes, it is therefore worth considering the odds for a point win for the hosts between Bochum and Wolfsburg, as well as an under 4.5 bet. Only in the heavy defeats in Stuttgart (0:5) and at FC Bayern (0:5) did VfL concede so many goals. The six goals conceded in the last six matchdays, on the other hand, are impressive. Last week there was a 0-0 draw in Heidenheim, in which the defense once again made a passable impression.

Predicted Bochum line-up:

Wolfsburg – Statistics & current form

While we could easily describe VfL Bochum’s players as mentality monsters, VfL Wolfsburg’s professionals have lacked the necessary seriousness time and time again this season. There is hardly any other explanation for the Green-Whites’ brutal fluctuations in performance. A team that has beaten Champions League contenders Leipzig twice in the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup, but at the same time delivered inexplicable performances such as in Mönchengladbach (0:4) or at TSG Hoffenheim (1:3), has rightly earned the nickname “wonder bag”.

If we take a closer look at the results, we can see a serious discrepancy between home and away performances. The Wolves scored 13 of their 16 points at home. Away from home, on the other hand, there was only one win in six attempts. The most recent five home games in the Bundesliga have all resulted in defeats. It is the first time since 2011/12 that the former German champions have suffered so many away defeats in a row. With 15 goals already conceded, coach Niko Kovac’s team also have one of the weakest away defenses in the Bundesliga

Are the Wolves in for a “nasty” away game?

In the last three matches in opposing stadiums alone, a whopping ten goals have been conceded by the Autostadt side, who are actually very promising in terms of quality, but have so far failed to find their feet – no doubt due to the many changes in the starting eleven. Despite positive approaches, such as in the previous week’s 2:1 home win against RB Leipzig, it is too risky for us to predict an away win in this duel between Bochum and Wolfsburg, which is likely to be characterized by many duels.

To make matters worse for the visitors, they have only managed to back up a win with another three-pointer once this season. The other successes were always followed by a defeat a week later. If you believe that this streak will continue on Saturday afternoon, you can find odds of 2.70 for a home three-pointer between Bochum and Wolfsburg on the three-way market. We found these top odds at Interwetten:

Predicted Wolfsburg line-up:

Bochum – Wolfsburg Direct comparison / H2H balance

Last season, VfL Wolfsburg coped quite well with VfL Bochum’s special style of play. There was a 5-1 win in the Ruhr and a 4-0 victory at home. For the very first time in the club’s history, the club from Lower Saxony could now beat Bochum three times in a row. However, it should be noted that the Blue & Whites have won seven out of twelve home games against the Green & Whites in the Bundesliga (7-2-3). Apart from that, the visitors have won just one of the last eight head-to-head meetings in the German top flight. The home team has always had the upper hand

Bochum – Wolfsburg betting tip

A deep, muddy pitch, cold temperatures and a full house. The external conditions on Saturday afternoon clearly speak in favor of the home team from Bochum, who love to leave their hearts on the pitch, driven by their own fans. Because factors that do not necessarily have anything to do with the footballing quality of the individual players have to be taken into account, especially at this time of year, we see the advantages for Letsch’s team, who will not have to adapt their style of play much on the poor pitch.

If the visitors from Lower Saxony cannot match the intensity and aggression of the hosts, the next setback looms. Kovac’s charges have already conceded five away defeats in a row. What’s more, the upcoming DFB Cup round of 16 in Mönchengladbach may already be on the minds of some of the professionals. Although the Wolves should never be underestimated, we believe that the fourth weakest away team in the Bundesliga will once again put in one of their weaker performances at the weekend. The bookmakers are also cautious and offer only slightly lower odds on an away win between Bochum and Wolfsburg

In our opinion, however, it makes far more sense to place a bet on the 1X & under 4.5 in the controversial duel between Bochum and Wolfsburg. The blue and whites have only lost one of five home games and have held their own against many good teams at home. The extension of Letsch’s contract during the week was also a positive signal, so we are playing the resulting top odds of 1.78 with a confident bet of six units