Sunday will see two sides on different trajectories go head-to-head in the Bundesliga as newly crowned champions Bayer Leverkusen travel to VFL Bochum.
We'll preview the Bochum vs Leverkusen game, providing a prediction of the most likely outcome of this Bundesliga game.
Only one team across Europe is currently in contention for a treble this season, and that has partly been made possible by the contributions of Nigeria duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella. Bayer Leverkusen have been exceptional this season, holding their own against every opponent they've faced in Germany and in Europe.
There were doubts over whether Xavi Alonso’s side would slow down a bit after being crowned German champions with some games to spare, but they haven’t taken their foot off the gas. Rather, they have continued to prioritise their unbeaten run as they aim to make history.
Although Leverkusen are yet to taste defeat in all competitions this season, they’ve had some close shaves in recent times, with the latest being their late comeback from two goals down against AS Roma in the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg last Thursday. While Alonso’s side are favourites against Bochum, the hosts are more desperate for the three points, and would want to win to steer clear of the relegation zone.
Here’s a preview of the upcoming tricky game between Bochum and Leverkusen.
Quick stats
- Bayer Leverkusen haven’t lost in 49 matches, the longest unbeaten run in European football history
- Bochum are aiming to win three Bundesliga games in a row for the first time this season, after beating Hoffenheim and Union Berlin in their last two matches
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored at least two or more goals in their last four matches, while Bochum have also found the back of the net seven times in their last two games alone
- Bochum boast a strong home record, having lost just three out of their 16 home games in the Bundesliga this season
- Bochum are unbeaten against Bayer Leverkusen in their last three home matches in the Bundesliga
Match preview
Matches between Bochum and Leverkusen have always been tricky, and usually produce lots of goals. But when it comes to playing at the Ruhrstadion, Bochum have often been tough customers and haven’t lost there to Leverkusen since returning to the German top-flight in the 2021/22 season.
Die Werkself are overwhelming favourites going into Sunday’s game, but their poor away record against Bochum could come back to haunt them. Alonso’s side suffered a 3-0 humbling when they travelled to Bochum last season, and were largely outplayed in that encounter.
While Leverkusen do not have fond memories of their visits to the Ruhrstadion, they can take solace from the fact they are currently the best team in the country, and thrashed Bochum 4-0 when the two teams met at the Bay Arena last December.
Alonso, however, believes his players have shown the desire and character needed to thrive under adversity after rallying from behind to avoid defeat several times.
“It's difficult to explain this kind of situation once and over and over again. I'm kind of speechless again that we were able to come back, to show this character and not to lose the game,” he told Sky Sports.
“We have shown great character, and the boys kept having the confidence that we were in the right way, even after the 2-0 [vs Roma]. You can have a few doubts, you can lose the control, you try to change a little bit the way you play. But we kept doing the right things.”
It will also be interesting to see which starting line-up Alonso names for the upcoming game. The Spaniard obviously has one eye on extending his side’s unbeaten record, but is also an expert at squad management, which is why Leverkusen have not burned out despite playing so many games already this season.
Alonso surprisingly benched both Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface during last Thursday’s Europa League semi-final clash against Roma, and rather chose Amin Adli to lead the line. While Schick eventually came on in the second half, Boniface was an unused substitute throughout the game.
The Nigeria international has rarely started games since returning from a three-month injury layoff, but he boasts impressive numbers in front of goal, and remains the club’s top scorer this season with 19 goals in all competitions. He was also recently named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season and would certainly be aiming to contribute more.
With Sunday’s game being a dead rubber encounter, Alonso might consider giving Boniface his first 90 minutes since recovering from injury to further build his match fitness ahead of the DFB Pokal and Europa League finals.
Nathan Tella is another player who has earned Alonso’s trust in recent months, but the Nigerian did not also feature against Roma a few days ago. Tella has played 39 matches in all competitions this season, contributing seven goals and five assists.
With the Europa League final against Atalanta and the DFB Pokal final against FC Kaiserslautern coming up in the next two weeks, Alonso will be keen to have his best players rested and ready for the challenge ahead, despite having to deal with Bochum first.
Bochum sit in 14th position, and are just three points above the relegation playoff places, but one more win would guarantee their safety in the German top-flight. This is a fixture that has always produced goals and Sunday’s game should be no different.
Bochum vs Leverkusen H2H (Last 10 games)
December 20, 2023 – Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Bochum
May 27, 2023 – Bochum 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen
January 25, 2023 – Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Bochum
April 10, 2022 – Bochum 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
November 20, 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Bochum
March 22, 2018 – Bayer Leverkusen 5-2 Bochum
August 31, 2017 – Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Bochum
January 17, 2017 – Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Bochum
January 19, 2016 – Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Bochum
February 6, 2010 – Bochum 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Bochum vs Leverkusen prediction
Bayer Leverkusen are overwhelming favourites against Bochum, but they have often struggled against Heiko Butscher’s side away from home. Having failed to win their last three trips to the Ruhrstadion, including succumbing to a humiliating 3-0 defeat last season, Alonso and his troops cannot take this game for granted.
The only motivation for Leverkusen after already wrapping up the Bundesliga title is to maintain their unbeaten record, but Bochum have more to gain from this game, and will be aiming to upset the champions to maintain their top-flight status.
But even if Alonso fields a fringe side, Leverkusen should be able to nick a win against Bochum, and Boniface should get on the scoresheet if he makes the starting line-up.
Bochum vs Leverkusen confirmed XI:
VfL Bochum confirmed starting lineup: Riemann; Passlack, Ordets, Schlotterbeck, Bernardo; Losilla, Osterhage, Asano, Wittek, Stoger, Wittek; Hofmann
Bayer Leverkusen confirmed starting lineup: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Kossounou; Arthur, Andrich, Xhaka, Stanisic; Tella, Boniface, Schick
