Softfootball provides a detailed preview of Saturday’s Bundesliga matchup between VfL Bochum and Bayer Leverkusen, including analysis, predictions, team updates, and likely lineups.
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Bayer Leverkusen heads into this 10th Bundesliga fixture of the 2024-25 season against VfL Bochum at Vonovia Ruhrstadion, following a tough 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday. Xabi Alonso’s men, currently holding fourth place with 16 points, will look to refocus their efforts in domestic play as they face Bochum, who are in a challenging spot, sitting last in the league standings with only one point from nine games.
Match Preview
The hosts come into this game on the back of a disheartening 7-2 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on November 2, where they conceded five goals in just over 30 minutes. This heavy defeat, combined with other recent struggles, underscores the disharmony within the team, especially after interim manager Markus Feldhoff took the helm. With Dieter Hecking’s appointment on November 4, Bochum fans hope the new manager’s influence will bring much-needed stability and an identity to their play. However, the task will be uphill: Bochum has lost 10 of their last 11 Bundesliga outings and conceded 22 goals across their last five league matches. Their home form offers only a slight respite, with six points gained from their last 10 home games, though they have been defeated in four of their last five at Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
In contrast, Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen faced frustration in their recent European fixture. While they initially held Liverpool at bay for over an hour, they conceded four goals in the final half-hour, leaving them 14th in the Champions League standings. Alonso has voiced some positives despite the loss, including what he deemed the team’s best Bundesliga performance so far in a goalless draw with Stuttgart, where pressing and offensive play looked promising. Nevertheless, Leverkusen’s season has had its inconsistencies; they have dropped points in five of nine league games this term, in contrast to only six games throughout the entire 2023-24 season. With 20 goals scored and 15 conceded, Leverkusen ranks third in Bundesliga offensively but sits in a mid-table position defensively. The team will also look to continue their solid away form, having gone unbeaten in away fixtures in all competitions since their 3-0 loss to Bochum in May 2023.
Team News
For Bochum, left-back Bernardo remains sidelined until late November, likely resulting in a starting lineup with Felix Passlack, Jakov Medic, Ivan Ordets, and Maximilian Wittek in defense. Due to an internal suspension of goalkeeper Manuel Riemann, Patrick Drewes is expected to retain the role in goal. Striker Myron Boadu, dealing with a hip injury, is ruled out until later this month, leaving Moritz Broschinski and Philipp Hofmann to likely form a front two for Bochum.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, will be without Amine Adli, who is sidelined with a broken leg until late March. Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface are set to start in the forward line, potentially joined by Martin Terrier. With defenders Jeanuel Belocian and Nordi Mukiele unavailable, Alonso is expected to opt for Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie as the central defensive trio.
Probable Lineups
VfL Bochum: Drewes; Passlack, Medic, Ordets, Wittek; Miyoshi, Sissoko, Losilla, De Wit; Broschinski, Hofmann
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
While Bochum hopes that Hecking’s arrival will inject new energy into the squad, their struggles this season present a significant hurdle. Leverkusen’s strong away record and solid scoring ability give them a favorable edge, and they are expected to capitalize with a decisive performance on Saturday.
