Table of Contents
VfL Bochum – SC Freiburg
This coming Saturday, important points are at stake again in the Bundesliga and the duel between VfL Bochum and Sport-Club from Freiburg is on the agenda at 15:30. Both teams need a win in order not to lose sight of their season goals. Find out what we think about this match in detail in our Bochum – Freiburg tip.
Looking at the Bundesliga table, there are likely to be two different faces. Bochum are in 15th place with 19 points and are still just above the line. They have only won two of their last five games, and VfL also failed to win anything last weekend with a 3-0 defeat in Munich. The upcoming opponents from Freiburg secured three important points in the fight for the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Stuttgart. Coach Christian Streich’s team currently sits fourth in the table.
Bochum – Freiburg info:
– Date & Time: 18.02.2023, 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 21
– TV broadcast: Sky
Bochum Form & Balance Check
Bochum’s record from the last five games does not read particularly outstanding on balance. Two victories are offset by three defeats. Last weekend, for example, there was a defeat at the big FC Bayern. The 0:3 defeat at the record champions must now be forgotten and the focus must be quickly turned to the home match against Freiburg.
The performances in front of their own fans have been simply outstanding in recent weeks. Apart from last week’s cup defeat against Dortmund, Bochum have won their last five home games. This also included the last encounter against TSG from Hoffenheim, when Bochum won 5:2.
With brains to stay in the class?
It’s usually the case that the clubs in the bottom of the table come less through their footballing aspects and more through fight and passion. Hoffmann is one of the best symbols of the Bochum team’s style of play. The VfL’s top scorer (7 goals) leads the league with the most headed duels. So far, Hofmann has scored three goals with his head.
If the Bochum team is to be able to keep its place in the league, the clumsy tackling in its own penalty area must be stopped. The VfL has the most penalties of all Bundesliga teams with an incredible twelve. What’s more, with 13 matchdays to go, this is already the second-highest tally in Bundesliga history.
Bochum facts & analysis
– Won all 5 home games in the league under Letsch.
– Already caused 12 penalties
– Last lost 0:3 in Munich
Freiburg form & balance check
Will Freiburg finally have a reason to celebrate away from home this coming Saturday? If we take a closer look at the SCF’s last three away games, there was nothing to be gained against Leipzig, Wolfsburg or Dortmund. Most recently, there were even eleven goals conceded in the two games against Wolfsburg and BVB.
At least the performances in front of their own fans are good. There, the Sport-Club secured a narrow 2-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart last weekend. The defeat of Leipzig against Union allowed coach Christian Streich’s eleven to regain fourth place.
Like to play against Bochum
Even though SC Freiburg had to cope with a small dip in performance in recent weeks, we can once again speak of a strong season for the Breisgauer. One of the reasons is the sensational form of Grifo. The German-Italian scored ten and eleven goals in the Bundesliga last weekend. This means he has already matched his top score from last season. Furthermore, Freiburg has had luck on its side this year. The Sport-Club has already been awarded seven penalties – the highest number in the league.
Freiburg facts & analysis
– Last 3 away games lost
– Last 2:1 win against Stuttgart
– Currently in 4th place
Predicted line-up – last update on 17 February 2023
The Bochum side will swap in two positions compared to the 0:3 against Bayern. First, coach Letsch will switch from a 4-2-3-1 back to a 4-3-3. Kunde will have to make way for Stöger. Zoller will also move to the bench and Asano from Japan will play on the wing. Hofmann will again act as the only top player in the centre. In contrast, the Freiburg team should make it to the pitch without any major changes. Coach Streich is again relying on a 4-3-3, with Grifo on the left and Doan on the right. Gregoritsch will play like Hofmann at VfL, as a striker in the centre.
Bochum – Freiburg direct comparison & statistics
Both teams have had the pleasure of playing 23 times so far and SC Freiburg are just ahead with ten wins. Bochum won nine games and in addition there are four draws. In the first leg there was a narrow 1:0 for Freiburg.
– SC Freiburg’s current performance in the Bundesliga is better than VfL Bochum’s.
– The winner of the last encounter was SC Freiburg
– Philipp Hofmann is the top scorer with 7 goals. Vincenzo Grifo scored 11 times for SC Freiburg
– VfL Bochum have not won any of their last 3 duels against SC Freiburg
