Bayer Leverkusen vs VfL Bochum: Bundesliga Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

This week's Bundesliga matchup pits Bayer Leverkusen against VfL Bochum.  Xabi Alonso's and Dieter Hecking's squad will square off on Friday at the BayArena, with kickoff set for 8:30 pm Nigerian time.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Last year, Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga and performed outstandingly. The Werkself were not only crowned German champions without dropping a single match, but Xabi Alonso's squad also broke Bayern Munich's championship grip.

Even if things aren't looking good right now, Bayer has opened the door with only two victories in their previous five Bundesliga matches.  With 56 points after 26 games, Alonso's squad is presently in second place, six points behind Bayern, who have dominated the league so far.

This week, Bayer will face VfL Bochum at the BayArena in the Bundesliga. They won their league encounter away from home, 4-3, against VfB Stuttgart.  The team had already lost 2-0 in front of its home supporters to Bayern in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 game and 2-0 to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

A tiny team in Germany's top division, VfL Bochum, came dangerously close to relegation last season.  In the 2024–25 Bundesliga season, Die Unabsteigbaren finished in sixteenth place; they want to improve significantly this season.

Dieter Hecking's squad currently has 38 points after 26 games, enough for eighth place in the Bundesliga.  In fourth position, with seven points to spare, are Eintracht Frankfurt, who hold the fourth and last UEFA Champions League berth; Wolfsburg are just four points from the European spots.

Going into their Bundesliga encounter against Bayer Leverkusen away at the BayArena, VfL Bochum will be riding high after a 3-1 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.  It followed a 1-0 defeat to Hoffenheim at the Volkswagen Arena and an unexpected 3-2 win against league leaders Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Bayer Leverkusen x VfL Bochum Team News

The 4-4-1-1 configuration is the most probable starting lineup for Bayer Leverkusen.  For the home side, Lukas Hradecky will start in goal.  The four defenders will be Piero Hincapie, Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich, and Nordi Mukiele.  The four midfielders participating are Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Aleix Garcia, and Alejandro Grimaldo.  Exequiel Palacios will start in the offensive midfield position.  For Bayer, Patrik Schick will be in the driver's seat.

When facing Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Bochum will likely utilize a 4-4-2 formation.  The traveling squad will be starting custodian Timo Horn.  The four defenders will be Maximilian Wittek, Jakov Medic, Tim Oermann, and Ivan Ordets.  Tom Krauss, Ibrahima Sissoko, Matus Bero, and Felix Passlack will make up the midfield.  Two center forwards, Philipp Hofmann and Georgios Masouras, will be on the squad.

Our Predictions

Bayer Leverkusen to win & Under 3.5 goals @ 2.34 on Sky247.ng

Among the Bundesliga's weakest teams this season has been VfL Bochum, but reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen are among the league's best.  Xabi Alonso's team is playing at home in this Bundesliga match, so it's impossible to see them losing by any margin.

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