Will VfL continue their recent upward trend in Leverkusen?
Bayer Leverkusen did manage to keep the German flag flying high in the Europa League, where they clearly lead Group G after their recent 4-0 win over Betis Sevilla. Overall, however, this triumph was the Werkself’s only victory in their last seven competitive matches. The situation is completely different for VfL Bochum. The Blue and Whites have won four of their last five competitive matches and come to the BayArena in good form.
Although Bochum have been very convincing on several occasions recently and have climbed into a secure mid-table position, the odds are clearly in favour of the home side ahead of the match between Leverkusen and Bochum.
The bookmakers’ assessment that the Werkself, who have only won one of their last seven competitive matches, are the clear favourites can now be exploited to great effect. After all, there are some very interesting odds on Leverkusen against Bochum for a point win for the blue and white team.
The double chance X2 also involves a certain risk, but covers many eventualities. It would certainly not be a bad idea to play this supposed underdog bet with a free bet.
Leverkusen – Statistics & current form
For 43 years now, Bayer Leverkusen have been an integral part of the Bundesliga, where the Werkself have finished in the top six in eleven of the last twelve seasons and qualified for UEFA competitions.
Leverkusen are also currently competing in the Europa League, where they are in first place in Group G with ten points out of a possible twelve. Meanwhile, Gerardo Seoane’s men also got off to a solid start in the Bundesliga, setting the stage for a return to European action next season.
Only one win in last seven competitive matches
After the outstanding start, which initially brought 16 out of a possible 21 points from the first seven games, the Werkself has, however, fallen into a bit of a rut at national level. In league play, they recently suffered two crushing defeats at home to FC Bayern (1:5) and VfL Wolfsburg (0:2).
For the first time in seven years, there could now be three consecutive home defeats in league play. Although the Werkself is clearly favoured against the promoted side from Bochum.
Ten goals conceded from last four league games
The recent 1:2 home defeat in the second round of the DFB Cup against second division side Karlsruher SC also fits in with the setbacks in league play. The reason for the recent lack of results is primarily to be found in the defence.
After conceding a total of only seven goals in their first seven league games, Leverkusen have conceded ten goals in the last four games alone. The credit for the strong start to the season has thus been almost completely used up. That makes it all the more important for Seoane’s team to reverse the trend at home in the NRW duel, which will be anything but a foregone conclusion given the serious absences of Alario and Schick.
Predicted Leverkusen line-up:
Hradecky – Hincapie – Tapsoba – Tah – Frimpong – Diaby – Demirbay – Andrich – Paulinho – Wirtz – Adli
Last matches played by Leverkusen:
1st Bundesliga
11/07 2021 – Hertha Berlin 1 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
Europa League Grp. G
11/04 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 4 – 0 Real Betis
1st Bundesliga
10/30 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 0 – 2 Vfl Wolfsburg
DFB Cup
10/27 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 1 – 2 Karlsruher SC
1st Bundesliga
10/24 2021 – 1. FC Köln 2 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen
Bochum – Statistics & current form
VfL Bochum surprisingly secured promotion to the top flight of German football this summer as champions of the 2. Bundesliga, from which the once-so-grey mouse had departed at the end of the 2009/10 season for the fourth consecutive year of Bundesliga affiliation.
However, the budget of the Blue and Whites was not increased significantly, which is why it was not surprising that VfL were among the top favourites in the Bundesliga relegation forecast. In the end, those responsible did not invest a single euro in transfer fees for new personnel and instead relied increasingly on loan players.
Won three of the last four league games
The concept is nevertheless working. Admittedly, the kickers from the Ruhr area got off to a bumpy start to the new season with only four points out of a possible 21 from the first seven league games. Then, however, VfL won three of the last four games in league play alone and climbed to twelfth place.
With a five-point lead over the first relegation place, the spectre of relegation has been banished from the Grönemeyer city for the time being. However, all those involved know all too well that another negative series can quickly take them back into the dangerous region.
Won only one of the last 13 Bundesliga away games
Nevertheless, the current form curve certainly suggests that Leverkusen’s bet on the second-division champions to win a point against Bochum could work out. After all, VfL recently won their ticket to the last 16 of the DFB Cup. They have won a total of four of their last five matches.
Only the away record of the Blue and Whites in the top flight of German football is capable of improvement. Of the last 13 Bundesliga away games, Thomas Reis’ men have only won one – a 1-0 victory at fellow promoted Greuther Fürth.
Predicted Bochum line-up:
Riemann – Soares – Lampropoulos – Masovic – Stafylidis – Losilla – Rexhbecaj – Löwen – Antwi-Adjei – Asano – Polter
Last matches played by Bochum:
1st Bundesliga
11/06 2021 – Vfl Bochum 2 – 0 Hoffenheim
10/31 2021 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 – 1 Vfl Bochum
DFB Cup
10/27 2021 – Vfl Bochum (5)2 – 2(4) Augsburg
1st Bundesliga
10/24 2021 – Vfl Bochum 2 – 0 Eintracht Frankfurt
10/16 2021 – Greuther Fürth 0 – 1 Vfl Bochum
Leverkusen – Bochum Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 29 – 15 – 22
The two teams have faced each other a total of 66 times so far in the NRW duel and the Werkself leads the direct comparison with 29 victories. The last time they faced each other in the Bundesliga was in February 2010, when the game ended 1-1 in Bochum.
Leverkusen – Bochum Tip
When it comes to Leverkusen against Bochum, the prediction naturally goes to the Werkself, who have a high budget that corresponds to their regular participation in European competitions. Of course, the penniless promoted team from the Ruhr region can’t keep up with that. Nevertheless, the momentum speaks a different language in the run-up to this NRW duel. While Leverkusen have won just one of their last seven competitive games, VfL have four wins in their last five.
While the bet also carries a certain risk, especially since the Blue and Whites are anything but strong away from home. Nevertheless, the odds offer a favourable opportunity to bet with high value on a point win for the promoted team.
