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VfL Bochum – Schalke 04
The Bundesliga truly knows no rest at the moment and the 23rd matchday is already on the agenda this coming weekend. This round promises many exciting games and especially on Saturday there will be one or the other trend-setting duel. Fittingly, VfL Bochum and FC Schalke will face each other at 3:30 pm. Rank 17 against rank 18, more relegation fight is really not possible in this match. Find out who can secure the all-important three points in our Bochum – Schalke tip.
Both fan camps know what is at stake in the upcoming match. Bochum could make a big leap out of the bottom of the table with a win. Currently, the VfL is only in second-last place and has lost four of its last five games. Although the upcoming opponents Schalke are still at the bottom of the table, the mood at S04 is much better. They haven’t lost in five games and deservedly beat Stuttgart 2-1 on the last matchday. The three points have brought the team to within three points of the bottom of the table.
Bochum – Schalke Info:
– Date & Time: 04.03.2023, 15:30 Uhr
– Venue: Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum
– Competition: Bundesliga, 23rd matchday
– TV broadcast: Sky
Bochum Form & Balance Check
Everything is set for an absolute cracker from Bochum’s point of view. Coach Thomas Letsch’s team knows that they should avoid defeat on Saturday at all costs. They have lost four of their last five games and also failed to win against Bremen on the last matchday. Once again, the Bochum side failed to win a game away from home.
In the end, the 0:3 defeat was completely justified. Especially in the last third, the Bochum team was far too harmless. On Saturday, they have to break free in front of their own fans. If they lose against Schalke, VfL would slip to last place. After all, the last home games didn’t look bad. Bochum have won three of their last four home games in the league.
Duell against the ex-coach
The Bochum players know what awaits them on Saturday. With Thomas Reis, VfL’s former promotion coach is now on the Knappen’s sidelines. If Bochum want to win against the former coach, they will have to create more danger, especially on the offensive. Recently, Bochum failed to score three times in a row in the league. Hofmann should once again provide the necessary goals for VfL on Saturday. The striker has scored six of his seven goals in front of his own fans. The brawny attacker was also successful in the first leg in a 1:3 loss.
Bochum facts & analysis
– 4 defeats from the last 5 games
– Last lost with 0:3 in Bremen
– Hofmann has already scored six home goals
Schalke form & balance check
If we take a closer look at the last few games, FC Schalke 04 are truly not playing like a potential relegated team at the moment. Apart from their big rivals from Dortmund, the Knappen are the only team in the league that has not yet lost a game in the second half of the season. After four 0-0 draws in a row, which was also a new Bundesliga record, the long-awaited victory finally came on the last matchday. Against the Swabians from Stuttgart, Schalke showed one of the best performances this season and the 2:1 victory had to be earned in the end, but the Knappen will certainly not complain about it. Schalke already have as many points (16) as they did in the entire 2020/21 relegation season combined.
Best defence of the second half of the season
The Schalkers’ upswing can also be reflected in the bare figures. Due to the four 0:0 in a row, the Knappen have the best defence of the second half of the season. Coach Thomas Reis’ team must now build on the victory against Stuttgart. It will be important that the already praised defence stands firm again. Despite his mistake against VfB, Fährmann should be between the posts again. Simon Terodde will again be responsible for the goals on Saturday. The striker also has a Bochum past. He scored 44 goals in 66 second division games for VfL. This season, the S04 captain has scored three goals.
Schalke facts & analysis
– Since 5 games without defeat
– Only conceded one goal in the second half of the season
– Last win with 2:1 against Stuttgart
Predicted line-up – last update on 3 March 2023
The hosts from Bochum will also be without their captain Losilla for the upcoming match. The midfielder continues to miss out through suspension. Masovic will be moved up from central defence to central midfield. In his place, Schlotterbeck will move into the centre alongside Ordets. Otherwise, we don’t expect any major changes for Bochum.
For the Schalkers, Brunner will again defend at right back and Aydin will move to the left. Coach Thomas Reis will not make any further changes after the 2:1 against Stuttgart and will therefore send the same eleven onto the pitch. Drexler and Bülter will again come through on the flanks.
Bochum – Schalke direct comparison & statistics
Both teams have faced each other in 71 games so far and Schalke clearly have the edge in the direct comparison. S04 won 36 games, in addition to eleven draws and 17 wins for the Bochum side. In the first leg there was a 3:1 victory for S04.
– Schalke 04 have not lost any of their last 5 matches
– VfL Bochum average 1.42 goals in home matches and Schalke 04 average 1.77 goals in away matches
– The average of goals scored in a clash between VfL Bochum and Schalke 04 is 3.2
– The winner of the last encounter was Schalke 04
– Schalke 04 have failed to win any of their last 14 away matches
