RB Leipzig – VfL Bochum
Another international break is coming up next weekend and the German national team travels to the USA. But before that, the 7th matchday in the Bundesliga will take place. In the conference, only four matches await all football fans this time, but there is still plenty of excitement. In Saxony, however, two teams meet that are at completely different ends of the form curve. Find out who will prevail in this unequal duel in our Leipzig vs Bochum tip.
The conditions before Saturday’s clash could hardly be more different. RB Leipzig is unbeaten in the league for five games and conceded the only points against Bayern and Leverkusen. The visitors from Bochum, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first win of the season and lost 3-1 at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach the previous week.
Nevertheless, there is a small glimmer of hope for VfL ahead of this duel. The Bochum coach could have decisive insights into the qualities of the opponent. After all, RB striker Loïs Openda played for Vitesse Arnhem from 2020 to 2022 under the guidance of coach Thomas Letsch.
Leipzig – Bochum info:
- Date & Time: 07.10.2023, 15:30 Uhr
- Game venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 7
- TV broadcast: Sky
Leipzig Form & Balance Check
This weekend, RB face their third home game in eight days. After the spectators had watched a draw against Bayern last Saturday, a 1:3 defeat against Manchester City in the Champions League followed during the week. Now, against Bochum, a win is logically expected again.
Despite a week that was not outstanding in terms of results, RasenBallsport have made a very good start to the new season so far. Leipzig are in a good fifth place after six games and conceded their only defeat of the season at table-toppers Leverkusen.
Eberl is history
The overriding topic at RB Leipzig last week had nothing to do with what was happening on the pitch. Rather, all the experts and fans were talking about the dismissal of Max Eberl as managing director of sport at the Saxons. His successor, at least temporarily, comes from within the club and is called Rouven Schröder.
And he also has a special relationship with the upcoming opponent. Leipzig’s newly appointed sporting director spent several seasons as a player on the pitch, specifically from 1999 to 2002 and again from 2007 to the end of 2009, at Castroper Straße. In addition, the 47-year-old also served as co-coach at VfL Bochum for a short period of time.
Leipzig facts & analysis
- Played 2-2 against Bayern the previous week.
- In 4th place in the league
- Actual DFB Cup winners
Bochum Form & Balance Check
The previous season, as expected, VfL Bochum fought to stay in the league until the last matchday and finally secured it with an impressive 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. This season, the goal for the team from Castroper Straße is once again to avoid relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga.
Currently, the VfL would have to go into relegation this season. The team under the leadership of coach Thomas Letsch is still waiting for its first win and is in 16th place in the Bundesliga table with three points from the first six games. Last week, Bochum suffered their first defeat at home this season, losing 3-1 to Gladbach.
Three-man backline doesn’t help
In the new season, coach Thomas Letsch changed his team’s playing system from a four-man backfield to a three-man backfield, also to create more stability in the defence. So far, however, this plan has not worked, as the VfL has the worst defence in the entire Bundesliga with 19 goals conceded. In the last two games alone, Bochum conceded ten goals.
But also in the previous season, VfL Bochum faced the challenge of dealing with a fragile defence for a long time. At the end of the season, Bochum recorded the worst defensive record in the entire league with 72 goals conceded and still managed to stay in the league. Presumably, the Bochum fans would accept a similar course of events this season as well.
Bochum facts & analysis
- Not yet won a game this season.
- The worst defence in the league
- Placed 16th in the Bundesliga
Predicted line-up – last update on 6 October 2023
Leipzig will again rely on the offensive 4-2-2-2. In defence, however, RB are plagued by some worries with the absences of Henrichs, Orbán and Bitshiabu. In the double forward line, we expect Openda and Poulsen together again on Saturday.
At VfL, we expect the usual three-man backline again in Leipzig. Unlike in Munich, Thoomas Letsch will probably not do without a target striker in the centre against RB. Therefore, we expect Philipp Hofmann again next to Takuma Asano in the double striker.
Leipzig – Bochum direct comparison & statistics
The duel between the two teams in the last second half of the season was won by VfL 1:0. Before that, however, things did not look good for the men from Castroper Straße in the direct comparison with RB, as Leipzig decided all eight previous duels in their favour.
- Duell from 5th place against 16th place
- Bochum never won in Leipzig before
- Leipzig win 50% of halves, Bochum win 16%
