VfL Bochum – Borussia Dortmund
Our Bochum – Dortmund prediction is: Both teams score – 1.60 odds
- The bet would have worked in seven of the last eight direct duels
- Dortmund scored in eight of ten BL away games
- Bochum scored in four of the last six BL home games
When VfL Bochum face Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, two teams with completely different emotional worlds will be on the pitch. Bochum are fighting desperately to avoid relegation as the bottom team in the table – they are already four points behind the safety line. The Hecking team did at least manage a respectable 2-2 draw at Holstein Kiel last time out.
For BVB, the change of coach to Niko Kovac has not yet worked out as hoped. After the 1-2 home defeat against VfB Stuttgart, they managed an impressive 3-0 win at Sporting in the Champions League playoff, but in the Bundesliga they continue to languish in eleventh place. Interestingly, only one point separates Dortmund and Werder Bremen in tenth place, while the lead over FC Augsburg is just two points. It will be interesting to see whether the new coach can finally celebrate his first Bundesliga victory in the small regional derby. You can find out more about this in our Bochum – Dortmund tip.
Bochum – Dortmund info
- Venue: Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum
- Date and Time: 15.02.2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 22
- TV broadcast: SKY
Bochum form & record check
VfL Bochum are currently in an extremely precarious situation at the bottom of the Bundesliga table. With only one win in their last five games and a mere eleven points on the board, Bochum are running out of time. Their defensive performance is particularly worrying – in 80% of their last games, the team has conceded goals in the first half.
At least in offense, there is a small ray of hope: in the recent 2-2 draw against Holstein Kiel, Myron Boadu scored a brilliant brace, but had to be substituted before half-time due to injury. Interestingly, despite the sporting misery, the team stands behind coach Dieter Hecking, whose pragmatic nature is well received by the team and the fans.
Can Bochum save itself?
The gap to the relegation place is currently two points – a gap that can certainly be closed. However, one may wonder whether the current form is sufficient for this: in addition to the draw in Kiel, there have also been significant defeats in recent weeks, such as the 0-3 loss in Mönchengladbach. To avoid relegation, the defense urgently needs to be stabilized.
Bochum Facts & Analysis
- Bottom of the table
- Only one win in last five games
- Last home game lost
VfL Bochum are likely to field a 4-2-3-1 formation against Borussia Dortmund. However, coach Dieter Hecking will be without Maxim Wittek, who is serving a one-match suspension for collecting yellow cards. Bernardo is likely to take his place at left-back. Forward Myron Boadu has a hamstring injury, meaning Philipp Hofmann is expected to start in the center of attack.
The midfield line-up will be interesting, as the combination of Bero and Krauß is proving to be an up-and-coming one. Masouras and Holtmann are expected to take up the wing positions to create danger with speed.
Dortmund Form & Balance Check
Borussia Dortmund are currently a team of stark contrasts. While the 2-1 home defeat to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga means that the hoped-for turnaround under new coach Niko Kovač has not materialized, they have achieved an impressive 3-0 away win against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
In particular, the newly signed Serhou Guirassy demonstrated his qualities as a striker. However, the current situation in the league is worrying with BVB in 11th place. Only one point separates BVB from Werder Bremen, while FC Augsburg, with two points less, is lurking directly behind them. Interestingly, there is a clear pattern here: while the first half is usually played solidly, the team regularly collapses after the break – in 80% of the last games, they conceded goals in the second half.
Internal problems as the biggest problem
The change of coach from Nuri Şahin to Niko Kovač was supposed to provide fresh impetus, but the structural problems seem to run deeper. Internally, there are also tensions at the management level between sporting director Sebastian Kehl and squad planner Sven Mislintat, who has been dismissed.
Nevertheless, the new arrivals Daniel Svensson and Carney Chukwuemeka could add quality to the team. It will be interesting to see whether Kovac finds the right mix of discipline and enthusiasm to lead BVB back into the top half of the table.
Dortmund Facts & Analysis
- First CL victory under Kovac
- In 80% of the last games in the 2nd half conceded
- Last BL away game won
Borussia Dortmund could play in a 4-2-3-1 system in the lineup under coach Niko Kovač, which proved itself in the last game. The named player lineups are: Goalkeeper – Kobel; Defenders – Süle, Can, Schlotterbeck, Svensson; Midfielders – Sabitzer, Groß, Adeyemi, Brandt, Gittens; Forward – Guirassy.
Bochum v Dortmund head to head & statistics
BVB have had the upper hand in the last five head-to-head meetings between Bochum and Dortmund. Three wins for the Black & Yellows are offset by two draws, while VfL are still waiting for a win.
The most recent encounter in September 2024 ended with a 4-2 home win for Dortmund. BVB also came out on top at home in January 2024 – with 3:1. Interestingly, before that there were two identical 1:1 draws in Bochum in 2023. The first duel of this series was a DFB Cup game in February 2023, which Dortmund narrowly won 2:1.
What is striking is that goals are guaranteed in this rivalry. In all five matches, both teams scored and at least two goals were scored. Particularly noteworthy is the first-half scoring rate – in 80% of the games, both teams scored at least one goal before the break.
BVB have proven to be the more effective team. While Dortmund scored multiple goals in each of the five games, Bochum, despite their consistent threat in front of goal, never managed more than two goals in a single game. The last three encounters all ended with three goals or fewer.
