VfL Bochum – RB Leipzig
Our Bochum – Leipzig prediction is: Leipzig win – 2.00 odds
- Leipzig is in 4th place and Bochum is in 18th place
- RB Leipzig won the last two direct duels against Bochum
- RB has the stronger squad
Next Bundesliga matchday, VfL Bochum and RB Leipzig will face each other. Bochum, currently in 18th place in the table, continues to fight to stay in the league. In their last five games, Bochum have recorded two wins, two losses and one draw. Despite positive results in some games, the relegation battle remains a major challenge for Bochum.
RB Leipzig, on the other hand, are in 4th place and have recorded three wins and two defeats in their last five games. Coach Marco Rose’s team are in good form, even though they have suffered a few setbacks recently. Leipzig still have ambitions of securing a Champions League place and will be out to get the three points in Bochum to consolidate their position.
For Bochum, it will be crucial to put in a strong performance at home and hold their own against the strong Leipzig team. Leipzig, on the other hand, will go into the game with a lot of confidence, looking to get back on the road to success after their recent defeats. The game promises to be exciting, with Bochum in urgent need of points and Leipzig needing their next win to stay in the race for the international places. Find out who will come out on top in the end in our Bochum – Leipzig tip.
Bochum – Leipzig info
- Date & time: 01/18/2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Venue: Vonovia-Ruhrstadion, Bochum
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 18
- Broadcast/Live stream: SKY
Bochum Form & Bilanz Check
VfL Bochum hosted FC St. Pauli in the sold-out Vonovia Ruhrstadion. In front of 26,000 spectators, Bochum managed an important 1-0 victory in the relegation battle in the Bundesliga.
The game started slowly as both teams were initially cautious. In the 31st minute, Bochum’s Philipp Hofmann had the best opportunity of the first half when he was left unmarked in the box but shot wide to the left.
Bochum increased the pressure after the break. In the 53rd minute, Jackson Irvine for St. Pauli missed a good header chance when he put the ball just over the goal. Only a few minutes later, in the 60th minute, Philipp Hofmann narrowly missed the goal. In the 67th minute, it was Moritz Broschinski who served Philipp Hofmann with a precise cross. He converted with the heel to make it 1-0 to Bochum.
St. Pauli tried to respond to the deficit, but were unable to create any more chances worth mentioning. In injury time, Adam Dzwigala of St. Pauli was shown the red card after a rough foul on Dani de Wit.
With this victory, Bochum draws fresh courage in the relegation battle and remains last in the table despite the success with nine points. FC St. Pauli missed the opportunity to distance themselves further from the relegation places and remains in 14th place with a four-point lead over Bochum.
Weak defense
Bochum has conceded 37 goals so far this season and has a frighteningly negative goal difference of -23. This defensive weakness is a major reason why the team is currently in last place in the Bundesliga. The lack of stability in defense has repeatedly left Bochum behind and tipped the scales in favor of their opponents in many games.
To get out of the basement of the table, the defense urgently needs to improve. Not only is stronger protection from the defenders needed, but also better organization within the team.
Only with a stronger defensive performance can Bochum hope to improve in the relegation battle and get out of the bottom of the table. This is an issue that needs to be addressed in the coming weeks if the club wants to remain in the Bundesliga.
Bochum facts & analysis
- 18th place in the Bundesliga
- Bochum won the last Bundesliga game
- Bochum won the last two Bundesliga home games
Leipzig Form & Record Check
Last time out, RB Leipzig faced VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga and suffered a 2-1 defeat. The game started promisingly for the visitors: Benjamin Sesko scored the 1-0 for Leipzig after just 10 minutes of play, following an assist from Xavi Simons.
Stuttgart, however, reacted quickly and equalized in the 50th minute through Jacob Bruun Larsen, who headed in a precise cross from Deniz Undav. Just ten minutes later, in the 60th minute, Nick Woltemade put the hosts in front for the first time with a goal from close range.
In the closing stages of the game, Leipzig came under additional pressure: Benjamin Sesko was shown a yellow-red card in the 85th minute for repeated fouls, and only three minutes later, LoIs Openda received a second yellow card for another foul, which led to a red card. With only nine players on the field, Leipzig was unable to equalize, and Stuttgart held on for a 2-1 win.
This defeat is a setback for RB Leipzig in their fight for a top-four finish. The team now needs to improve their defensive performance and maintain discipline to be more successful in the upcoming games.
Who will play in the forward line?
Who will play up front now?
In the upcoming game, RB Leipzig face a difficult challenge: due to the two yellow-red cards received by their strikers Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko in the last game against VfB Stuttgart, these two important offensive players will be missing. Both are key players in Leipzig’s offense, and their absence poses a significant problem for the team.
With the loss of these key players, Leipzig now have to react flexibly and focus on other players in attack. Coach Marco Rose will be forced to draw on the depth of his squad and possibly make tactical adjustments. He may look to fill the void by bringing on alternatives such as experienced striker Ande Silva or up-and-coming talent like the speedy Antonio Nusa.
A change in playing style cannot be ruled out either, as Leipzig could try to play more through the midfield and wings without their two regular strikers. Players like Xavi Simons could take on a bigger role in offense to maintain the team’s attacking prowess.
For Leipzig, it will be crucial to maintain tactical balance to get the maximum out of the available options and remain competitive despite the absences.
Leipzig Facts & Analysis
- 4th place in Bundesliga
- Leipzig are without a number of key players
- RB have won their last two meetings with Bochum
Bochum will line up in a 3-4-3 system, with the three central defenders supported by a compact midfield to stabilize the defense while also moving quickly forward through the wings. With this formation, Bochum aims to build a stable defense while also looking to catch Leipzig on the counter.
Leipzig will play in a 3-4-1-2 system, with the three central defenders supported by a strong midfield to maintain control in the center and launch attacks quickly. The central midfielder and the two strikers, who will be supported from the wings, will ensure an offensive approach.
With Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko missing out through suspension, Anthony Nusa and André Silva are expected to replace them. Both players bring different qualities to the offense: Nusa with his speed and Silva with his experience and finishing skills, which makes Leipzig still dangerous despite the absences.
The head-to-head comparison of the last five duels between RB Leipzig and VfL Bochum clearly favors Leipzig. In these five encounters, Leipzig has emerged as the winner on three occasions, while Bochum has only managed to win once. Another game ended in a draw. This record shows that Leipzig has the upper hand in past encounters and Bochum has rarely been able to compete against the strong team from Leipzig.
Direct Comparison (H2H)
