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VfL Bochum – Hertha BSC
After just over two months of abstinence, the Bundesliga finally returns from its winter break this coming weekend. The Champions League eighth-finalists RB Leipzig and FC Bayern kick off on Friday evening (Leipzig – Bayern betting tips), before the first Saturday conference of the new year takes place one day later. This includes the clash between VfL Bochum and Hertha BSC, which kicks off at 3:30 pm at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
The VfL is determined to take the momentum from the successful final spurt into the new year and, ideally, to record its third win in a row after the victories against Mönchengladbach and Augsburg. In their own stadium, it would even be the fourth win in a row.
After three defeats in a row, Berlin just managed to avoid a disastrous end to the year by beating 1. FC Köln 2-0 in the last game before the winter break. It was only the third win of the current season for the capital club. Our following Bochum vs. Hertha tip will tell you who we now believe will have a successful start to the second part of the season.
Bochum – Hertha info:
– Date & Time: 21.01.2023, 15:30 Uhr
– Venue: Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 16
– TV broadcast: Sky
Bochum Form & Balance Check
Although many pundits thought VfL Bochum’s poor start to the season was down to the quality of the squad rather than bad decisions by the coach, the switch from Thomas Reis to Thomas Letsch has undoubtedly paid off. In the eight Bundesliga games under Letsch, Bochum picked up four wins and a total of twelve points; before that, only one point came out of the first seven games. The successful end to the year will have given the Westphalians renewed self-confidence. Most recently, VfL defeated both Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Augsburg
4th home win in a row?
Bochum have even won all three of their home games since the change of coach – against in-form Champions League eighth-finalists Frankfurt (3:0), against then league leaders Union Berlin (2:1) and most recently against Borussia Mönchengladbach (2:1). Bochum have not celebrated four Bundesliga home wins in a row since 1997, when they even managed five home wins in a row under Klaus Toppmöller.
One point that the VfL will definitely have to work on in the second half of the season is impetuosity in their own penalty area. Bochum caused a staggering ten penalties this Bundesliga season, more than any team has ever caused after 15 Bundesliga matchdays! Who knows where the bottom team in the table would be now without the numerous penalties.
Bochum facts & analysis
– 13 points from 15 games
– Last win 1:0 in Augsburg
– Already caused 10 penalties – record after 15 matchdays!
Hertha form & balance check
The Berliners have played a very mixed first half of the season and currently have four points less on their account than after 15 matchdays last season, in which they only kept their place in the league in the relegation. Nevertheless, some positive developments can be seen, which are, however, too rarely reflected in the final result.
One of the reasons why the result often did not correspond to the team’s performance was the many late goals conceded. Hertha have already conceded six goals in the final quarter of the Bundesliga season, five of which cost the Berliners a total of eight points (draws against Leverkusen, in Mainz and against Freiburg; defeats in Bremen and Stuttgart). In addition, the Berliners have lacked a certain effectiveness in front of the opponent’s goal, which is certainly also due to the fact that they do not have a goal-scoring striker in their own ranks.
Does Niederlechner solve the striker problem?
New signing Wilfried Kanga has established himself in the starting eleven through committed performances, but has only been able to contribute two goals in his 14 appearances. Dodi Lukebakio, who is at home on the right wing, is currently the top scorer with seven goals. In Bochum, however, the Belgian is missing due to a yellow card suspension.
The solution to the striker problem could be new winter signing Florian Niederlechner. The 32-year-old attacker has already proven himself at several Bundesliga clubs in his career and scored an impressive 13 goals in his best season at Augsburg. If he is used properly, he could become the enforcer that has been missing so far. Against Bochum, however, he will still have to miss out due to muscular problems.
Hertha facts & analysis
– 14 points from 15 games
– Last win 2:0 against Cologne
– Only lost 1 of the last 19 duels with Bochum
Predicted line-up – last update on 19 January 2023
VfL Bochum will have to do without Konstantinos Stafylidis against Hertha, who is out with a rib injury. Lys Mousset was suspended in the training camp and will not play another game for the club. Otherwise, the starting eleven is largely set. Newcomer Pierre Kunde could displace Philipp Förster from the starting eleven. The other newcomer, Keven Schlotterbeck, is likely to start at left centre-back. Cristian Gamboa is an alternative on the right side of the back four.
For the Berliners, top scorer Dodi Lukebakio is missing due to a yellow suspension. Jean-Paul Boetius, Derry Scherhant and Myziane Maolida are competing for his place. Newcomer Florian Niederlechner is missing for the time being due to muscular problems. Chidera Ejuke was injured in the training camp and will miss large parts of the second half of the season. In the attacking midfield we expect Stevan Jovetic, Kevin-Prince Boateng would be another option. In addition, there will be the familiar duel between Maximilian Mittelstädt and Marvin Plattenhardt at left back. We are counting on Mittelstädt, as Plattenhardt was not allowed to travel to the training camp in the USA due to a missing Corona vaccination.
Bochum – Hertha direct comparison & Statistics
In the direct comparison, the Old Lady has a very narrow lead with 21 to 20 wins and 14 draws. In the past 20 years, Hertha have lost only one of 19 competitive matches against VfL (10 wins, 8 draws). In August 2009, they lost 0:1 in Bochum in the Bundesliga. In the past season, the capital city team won 3:1 away from home, the duel at the Olympiastadion ended 1-1.
– The average number of goals scored when VfL Bochum and Hertha BSC meet is 3.
– A year ago, VfL Bochum was in 10th position in the table with 20 points. Currently, they are in 17th position (13).
– A look at VfL Bochum: Philipp Hofmann is the top scorer with 4 goals. Dodi Lukebakio scored 7 times for Hertha BSC.
– Did you know that VfL Bochum score 36% of their goals between the 0-15 minute? That is the highest value in the league.
