Bochum’s situation is not good; they have lost four straight Bundesliga games (D2, L2) and are only two points above the relegation zone after a devastating 5-1 loss to Wolfsburg at home, which was their fourth loss by at least four goals this year. The fact that just three teams have been relegated with as many points or more in the last seven seasons should serve as a silver lining for Bochum despite the fact that their 27 points total this term is nine points lower than at the same stage last season.
The Vonovia Ruhrstadion has not been kind to Bochum lately after a run of three home victories to end the first half of the season and two to start the second. In addition to a DFB-Pokal loss to Borussia Dortmund back in February, the loss to Wolfsburg last weekend made it four losses in Bundesliga action from their previous five home games, meaning their last competitive H2H home win occurred in 2007 (D2, L3) subsequently.
Dortmund’s 4-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt extended their excellent league record this year (W11, D2, L1), and now they find themselves at the top of the Bundesliga. History is definitely on their favor because the last time they were in first place after 29 matchdays was in 2011/2012, which was also the season they won the championship, and the last team to be in first place at this point but not win it was Schalke in 2006/2007.
To avoid setting an unfavorable record, Dortmund will likely need to improve their away performance, as their five matches winless road streak in all competitions (D2, L3) isn’t exactly entertaining. With at least two goals allowed in each of those five losses, it is easy to see where Dortmund’s problems are coming from just by looking at those results.
The last Bochum goal came from home, and both of this season’s Bundesliga goals for the former Borussia Dortmund II player have come from the bench. Dortmund’s Donyell Malen, who has scored in his previous five Bundesliga games, scored twice against Frankfurt last round, his first league double since February 2021, when he was playing for PSV.
TEAM NEWS
owing to muscle problems, Bochum will continue to be without Keven Schlotterbeck and Marko Johansson. Philipp Forster is a serious question mark after missing his team’s most recent loss to Wolfsburg owing to an Achilles tendon injury.
After losing to Niko Kovac’s team in their previous match, Letsch is likely to make a few changes. Cristian Gamboa, Takuma Asano, and Pierre Kunde are all major contenders to start for the hosts.
In contrast, it appears that Dortmund will be without Nico Schlotterbeck for the remainder of the season after the defender sustained a tendon injury against Frankfurt. The defender was taking part in his first game following his withdrawal from the match against Bayern earlier this month due to another problem.
Niklas Sule will start alongside Hummels in lieu of his countryman, who was substituted against Oliver Glasner’s team. Thomas Meunier, Julien Duranville, and Mateu Morey will all be out injured.
After so easily defeating Frankfurt, Terzic is unlikely to make any further changes, although players like Reus, Giovanni Reyna, and Youssoufa Moukoko will all be prepared to step up from the bench should they be needed at any point.
Possible starting lineup for Bochum
Riemann, Gamboa, Masovic, Ordets, Soares, Kunde, Losilla, Osterhage, Asano, Hofmann and Antwi-Adjei.
Possible starting lineup for Borussia Dortmund
Kobel, Ryerson, Sule, Hummels, Guerreiro, Bellingham, Can, Brandt, Malen, Haller and Adeyemi.
We predict: Bochum 1-3 Dortmund Borussia
Bochum’s formerly impressive home record under Letsch has virtually disappeared over their current run of games at home, and Dortmund’s title challenge has a sense of destiny.
We anticipate Terzic’s team to pull themselves over the finish line and take the first step toward breaking Bayern’s 11-year supremacy in the Bundesliga, even if this appears to be one of BVB’s final matches that will be the most tough given that their opponents are battling relegation.