Leverkusen vs Bochum predictions for Saturday’s Bundesliga fixture at BayArena, where the hosts will be looking to break into the top four. The visitors go in search of another victory having gone into the international break off the back of an encouraging win. Read on for our free predictions and betting tips.
Right now, Leverkusen sits in a favourable position, in sixth place, only a point off the top four, though recent form suggests that they’re slipping. Saturday’s hosts are without a win in four league matches, two of which they’ve lost, though each of those losses was against top-four opposition. Last time out, they earned a point away at Hertha, which wasn’t the worst result in the world.
Given where they are in the table, and with European football being the obvious aim, Gerardo Seoane’s men haven’t done enough on home soil as of yet. Six points from five matches at BayArena isn’t good enough, nor is a total of 11 goals against. If they’re to start picking up more points at home, then they’ll need to defend better, that’s for sure. No Bundesliga team has conceded more home goals than Leverkusen this season.
The Bundesliga new boys made a bit of a shaky start to life at this level, though their recent form is encouraging. The visitors have won three of their last four, picking up critical points against fellow promoted side Furth, before earning a very respectable three points against Hoffenheim last time out.
Unfortunately, the away form of Bochum leaves plenty to be desired. Other than that win against Furth, last year’s 2. Bundesliga winners have picked up zero away-day points, scoring only two goals and conceding a worrying total of 15 goals. Such a stat will encourage Saturday’s hosts and at the same time, leave travelling fans worried.
Given the fact that the hosts have conceded a fair few goals at home, coupled with the fact that the visitors have shipped more than their fair share on the road, it would be easy to side with a high-scoring game here, and the current odds certainly suggest that goals are likely. However, that route provides bettors with little value, while a price of 7/5 on ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ is eye-catching.
In their last four at home, Die Werkself have scored only a modest average of 1.25 goals, scoring more than once in just one of those four, while they are also one of the worst teams in the division when it comes to shots for at home. Combine this with Bochum’s distinct lack of goals for on the road – the visitors average just 0.6 goals per away game – and siding with a low-scoring game in the betting starts to make plenty of appeal at attractive odds.