VfL Bochum – Eintracht Frankfurt
This Sunday, Vonovia Ruhrstadion will host an exciting duel between relegation candidates VfL Bochum and Europa League participants Eintracht Frankfurt. The team from the Ruhr area is currently in 16th place in the table and is hoping for further momentum after their sensational 3-2 win against Bayern Munich. Frankfurt, currently in 4th place in the table, would also like to score again in the Bundesliga after their impressive 4-1 win against Ajax in the Europa League.
Bochum has 20 points and is fighting for survival with only a two-point lead over the relegation place. Frankfurt, on the other hand, has already collected 42 points and is in the running for a Champions League spot, despite the team’s recent three-game losing streak in the league.
The last meeting in November 2024, when the Hessians clearly got the upper hand with 7:2, is particularly explosive. Bochum will be out for redemption this time, especially since Georgios Masouras may be available again after his ankle injury against Bayern. Eintracht celebrated Götze’s brace in the clear victory against Ajax and would like to use this momentum to make up for the recent Bundesliga defeat against Union Berlin.
Bochum – Frankfurt Infos
- Venue: Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum
- Date and Time: 16.03.2025, 3:30 pm
- Competition: Bundesliga
Bochum Form & Balance Check
The form curve of VfL Bochum continues to point steeply upwards. The recent sensation at Bayern Munich, when Dieter Hecking’s team turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory, underlines this positive development. After conceding two early goals, Bochum fought back impressively with goals from Medić, Sissoko and Bero, helped by Bayern’s Palhinha being sent off.
In any case, Bochum are currently more stable defensively and more efficient offensively. They already impressed with a disciplined display against Borussia Dortmund (2:0). The blue and whites have picked up eight points in their last five games, which has secured their place in the relegation play-off for the time being. They are separated from 15th place (St. Pauli) by just two points and from the team in the bottom direct relegation spot, Holstein Kiel, by three points.
Although the game against Hoffenheim was lost 0-1, it seemed like an outlier. In the Vonovia Ruhrstadion, the atmosphere on Sunday will also be fueled by additional loudspeakers from the Ultras, so that the home crowd could give Bochum a further boost.
Coach Dieter Hecking is expected to stick with his recently successful 5-3-2 system. A back five of Bernardo, Medić, Oermann, Passlack and Wittek will likely be in place again at the back. Sissoko, Bero and Krauss will provide stability in midfield, while Georgios Masouras, who has apparently overcome his ankle injury from the Bayern game, could form a forward duo with Hofmann.
However, Ordets (hip problems), Holtmann (torn muscle) and Boadu (thigh injury), whose absence reduces the offensive potential, are still unavailable. As usual, Hecking will not announce the exact starting lineup until shortly before kick-off.
Frankfurt Form & Bilanz Check
In the past few weeks, Eintracht Frankfurt have presented themselves in two different ways. While they shone in the Europa League with a commanding 4-1 win over Ajax, Toppmöller’s team disappointed in the Bundesliga with three defeats in their last four games. The most recent game ended 1-2, although Frankfurt took an early lead through Batshuayi and then missed a penalty shortly before the end.
The departures of key players like Omar Marmoush, who joined Manchester City for €75 million, initially left gaps, but new signings like Hugo Ekitiké and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya are settling in better and better. The Europa League, in particular, is where Eintracht are rediscovering their true selves, most recently underpinned by a dominant performance against Ajax, thanks in no small part to two goals from Mario Götze.
In the Bundesliga, Frankfurt are currently in fourth place with 42 points, but their lead over fifth-placed Freiburg is very narrow at just one point. Their defense also remains vulnerable: in their last five competitive games, the Hessians have conceded at least one goal each time, which increases the pressure in the fight for a Champions League place.
Eintracht are expected to play in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Because Kevin Trapp will be out for a longer period of time, Santos is expected to keep goal again. Kristensen, Tuta, Amenda and Brown are set in the back four. Skhiri and Larsson are likely to play in the double six, while Mario Götze will take up the central offensive position. Bahoya and Wahi will likely be whirling on the wings, with Ekitiké as the striker.
Although Can Uzun has recently impressed with five goals and two assists, he could once again only take a place on the bench. Arthur Theate (muscle injury), Igor Matanovic (foot injury) and the talented Krisztián Lisztes (muscular problems) are also unavailable. Toppmöller is therefore likely to rely on other offensive alternatives such as Chaïbi, Batshuayi and Knauff.
Bochum – Frankfurt head-to-head & statistics
In the last five direct duels between Bochum and Frankfurt, there was one win each for both teams and three draws. The most spectacular was the most recent clash in November 2024, when Frankfurt came out on top with a 7-2 goal fest. Before that, three encounters ended 1-1, highlighting the close balance between the two clubs.
In October 2022, Bochum managed a 3-0 home win, which also marked the last success for the Ruhr city club in this fixture. Overall, it was evident that both teams often act cautiously in the early stages and only take more risks in the second half, as can be seen from the numerous half-time draws. However, both offensive lines scored in four of the last five games, which could indicate a goal-filled encounter on Sunday.
