Bayer Leverkusen – VfL Bochum
Six points separate Bayer Leverkusen from the top team from Munich, and this Friday evening, the BayArena could be the scene of an explosive game. The Werkself host VfL Bochum, who are fighting for survival in 16th place. For coach Xabi Alonso and his team, the aim is to keep up the pressure in the title race, while South American players Piero Hincapié and Exequiel Palacios have little time to recover after their World Cup qualifiers. Bochum, who are five points behind the safety line with 20 points, need to win every game. The last direct duel ended in November in Bochum with 1:1, after Leverkusen had celebrated a clear 5:0 in May. Patrik Schick is particularly in the spotlight: the goal scorer has already scored 17 goals this season and is chasing the top of the scoring charts with Harry Kane.
Leverkusen – Bochum Infos
- Stadium: BayArena, Leverkusen
- Date and Time: 03/28/2025, 8:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga
Leverkusen Form & Record Check
Bayer Leverkusen’s form graph is currently causing mixed feelings. After an impressive 4-1 win in Frankfurt, three bitter defeats in a row followed, including a 3-0 and a 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. In the league, things were also anything but rosy with a 2-0 loss to Werder Bremen. It was only the spectacular 4-3 win in Stuttgart that brought the longed-for turnaround, when Patrik Schick scored the winning goal in the 94th minute. However, the defense remains conspicuous: in the last five games, the Werkself has always conceded goals, in 80% of the most recent games before half-time. In the upcoming home game against Bochum, the loss of Florian Wirtz weighs heavily. In addition, it is unclear whether Hincapié and Palacios will be able to play due to their international duty. Coach Xabi Alonso could provide clarity regarding his own future in the coming days, which would certainly give the team a further boost in the final spurt.
Xabi Alonso is likely to remain true to form and rely on a 4-4-1-1 formation. Hrádecký will be in goal, while Mukiele, Tah, Hincapié and Grimaldo are expected in the back four. Andrich and Xhaka should pull the strings in the defensive midfield, flanked by García and Frimpong on the wings. The injured Florian Wirtz is still out, so Patrik Schick is likely to take on the role of sole striker. The travel stress could be a factor for Hincapié, who still has a World Cup qualifier ahead of him. In addition, Tapsoba, Belocian, Hermoso, Tella and Terrier, who are actually important options in the squad, are missing.
VfL Bochum Form & Record Check
VfL Bochum remain one of the Bundesliga’s great mysteries. Standing on the relegation place and only one point separating them from 1. FC Heidenheim, every game is a tightrope act. Nevertheless, Dieter Hecking’s team achieved a notable success with a 3-2 win over record champions Bayern Munich, before suffering another bitter setback in their last home game against Eintracht Frankfurt (1-3). While the offense around the fast Holtmann can be dangerous, the defense too often reveals serious gaps. Off the pitch, a banner scandal caused by the ultra group “UB99” caused unrest, which certainly doesn’t help Bochum in the relegation battle. For the game in Leverkusen, VfL will have to be at its best to survive in the BayArena.
Bochum manager Dieter Hecking is likely to field his team in the usual 4-4-2 formation. Oermann and Ordets are expected in the center of defense, flanked by Wittek on the left and Passlack on the right. It is also possible that Medić will be deployed in the back four. In midfield, a solid, defensively oriented duo made up of Sissoko and Krauss is expected, while Bero should provide the creative moments. Hofmann and Masouras are expected to act as a strike duo to challenge Leverkusen’s defense. On the bench, captain Losilla, Broschinski, Bamba and Boadu could provide a fresh spark.
Leverkusen – Bochum head to head & statistics
Of their last five meetings, Leverkusen have won three, Bochum have won one and drawn one. The most recent meeting ended 1-1 in November 2024, after the Werkself had scored an impressive 5-0 in May of that year. Leverkusen’s potency in the opening minutes is noteworthy, with goals coming in the first few minutes in four of the five matches, while Bochum conceded before half-time in 80% of these encounters. However, fewer goals are scored after the break. Bochum’s last taste of success came in 2023, when a 3-0 win silenced the criticism of the team for a day. Leverkusen have had the upper hand in the BayArena and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last two matches.
