Table of Contents
1. FC Köln – VfL Bochum
The Bundesliga is now slowly entering the decisive phase. The 24th matchday is already on the agenda this weekend. The races for the championship and the European places are extremely tight this season. But the relegation battle is also more exciting than ever this season. Only one point separates 14th and 18th place. And it is precisely this 18th place that is currently occupied by VfL Bochum, who travel to Cologne on Friday evening.
So far this season, 1. FC Köln has shown rather mixed performances and currently occupies twelfth place in the table. In the new year, the Geißböcke have only won two games so far. In the previous week, however, FC held their own against Union Berlin. The billy goats fought their way to a 0-0 draw in Köpenick.
Their opponents from Bochum have also won two games so far in 2023, although VfL have lost all six of their other games since the turn of the year. This was also the case the previous week, when Bochum lost 0:2 to Schalke in the small Revier derby. The men from Castroper Straße thus slipped to the bottom of the table. Find out whether VfL can improve their miserable form against Cologne in our Cologne vs Bochum betting tips.
Cologne – Bochum info:
– Date & Time: 10.03.2023, 20:30 Uhr
– Venue: RheinEnergieSTADION, Cologne
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 24
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Cologne Form & Balance Check
1. FC Köln have already gone through some difficult phases this season. After a promising start to the Bundesliga season, the team from the Rhine faltered towards the end of the Hinrunde and only picked up one point in the last five games before the winter break. In addition, the FC already bowed out of the UEFA Conference League in the group stage.
In 2023, however, things are looking up for FC. Although the Geißböcke have only won two matches, Cologne have only lost twice. In the last three games, however, the Cathedral City team remained without a win in the Bundesliga. In the previous week, however, Cologne fought their way to a 0-0 draw with Union Berlin. In the standings, FC are still in twelfth place.
Intermittent attack
At the start of the Bundesliga in 2023, 1. FC Köln scored an impressive victory against Werder Bremen, in which FC poured seven goals into the visitors from the north. And also in the home match against Frankfurt at the beginning of February, the FC’s offence created many scoring chances and scored three goals.
However, Cologne’s goal record looks rather modest if these games are disregarded. In the other eleven of the last 13 games in the Bundesliga, the Geißböcke scored only a meagre three times. In five of the last six games, Cologne even failed to score a goal of their own. Coach Baumgart would certainly like to see more consistency from his attackers.
Cologne facts & analysis
– Only one win in the last seven Bundesliga games.
– Last three times in a row without own goal
– Only eight points ahead of the relegation places
Bochum form & balance check
VfL Bochum are once again only fighting against relegation this season. However, with coach Thomas Letsch, the team made significant progress at the beginning of the year and collected six important points against direct rivals Hertha BSC and TSG Hoffenheim. As a result, Bochum even managed to jump up to 15th place in the table.
Since then, however, the form curve at Castroper Straße has been pointing steeply downwards again. Bochum was not only eliminated from the DFB Cup, but also lost the last four games in the Bundesliga. At the weekend, VfL even lost at home to FC Schalke, giving the Königsblauen their first away win in the top flight since 23.11.2019. In the table, Bochum thus also slipped back to last place.
Bochum away phobia
VfL Bochum apparently only feel comfortable deep in the west at home on Castroper Straße. Under coach Thomas Letsch, VfL have compiled a remarkable home record this season. At the Ruhrstadion, the team won five of the first seven games in the Bundesliga under the new coach.
But away from home, things are not going well at all for the Bochum team. With the exception of the 1:0 win against FC Augsburg on 12.11.2022, the team from the Ruhr has not picked up any points away from home. The away goal ratio of 7:35 in twelve games speaks volumes. In addition, Bochum have failed to score in seven away matches.
Bochum facts & analysis
– Worst defence in the league
– Currently 18th in the league
– Top scorer is Philipp Hofmann with seven goals
Predicted line-up – last update on 9 March 2023
Coach Steffen Baumgart will again field his team in a 4-2-3-1. Tigges is set in attack for the Domstadtern. Maina and Kainz will support him on the flanks. With Kilian, Pedersen, Thielmann, Andersson, Dietz and Uth, Cologne are now only missing six players through injury.
The VfL have also been playing in a 4-2-3-1 of late, with Philipp Hofmann likely to play in the forward line again and use his header strength. Manuel Riemann has made a few mistakes lately, but will probably be back in the FC box. Zoller, Holtmann and Gaboa are missing from the team due to injury.
Cologne – Bochum direct comparison & Statistics
In the direct 86 duels, FC has mostly been the winner. Cologne have already won 49 competitive matches against Bochum. The VfL, on the other hand, has only won 17 duels with the Geißböcken. In the first leg, the two teams parted with a 1-1 draw.
– Both teams are separated by eight points in the league.
– Bochum’s last win in Cologne was in 2018.
– Cologne have failed to score in 4 of their 11 home games in the Bundesliga this season
– Did you know that Bochum score 21% of their goals between the 10-15 minute mark?
