The Matchday 18 clash in the Bundesliga between Bochum and Leipzig will take place on January 18 at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion. Bochum vs. Leipzig: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Germany)
Matches – 8 (Bundesliga, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 31;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 4;
Average fouls per match – 19;
Penalties – 13%.
Predicted lineups for Bochum vs. Leipzig
Bochum (3-4-3): Patrick Drewes – Bernardo, Ivan Ordets, Erhan Masovic – Maximilian Wittek, Matus Bero, Ibrahima Sissoko, Felix Passlack – Gerrit Holtmann, Philipp Hofmann, Koji Miyoshi.
Leipzig (3-4-1-2): Peter Gulacsi – Nicolas Seiwald, Willi Orban, Lukas Klostermann – David Raum, Kevin Kampl, Arthur Vermeeren, Bote Baku – Xavi Simons – Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko.
Each team's lineup is based on their last match in this tournament.
Bochum
In the last round, Dieter Hecking's side secured three points in a 1-0 victory against St. Pauli. The club has lost only once in their last four league matches (two wins, one draw). They are currently at the bottom of the table, trailing the playoff zone by 5 points. Notably, Bochum has conceded 37 goals in the Bundesliga 2024/25 season, with only Holstein Kiel having a worse record (43).
- One of the teams failed to score in 4 of Bochum's last 5 home games in the league.
- The team conceded first in 7 of their last 9 home matches in this tournament.
- Bochum has not scored in the first half in 7 of their last 9 home Bundesliga matches.
Leipzig
In the 17th round, the team suffered a 1-2 defeat to Stuttgart. Leipzig has won only three of their last nine league games (one draw, five losses). They are fourth in the table, with a narrow one-point lead over their closest chaser, Stuttgart.
Main forwards Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda are suspended for this match.
- Both teams scored in 4 of Leipzig's last 5 away Bundesliga matches.
- The team has lost 4 of their last 5 away games in the league.
- The club conceded at least twice in 4 of their last 5 away matches in this tournament.
Bochum vs. Leipzig: Match Prediction
Marco Rose's side has struggled to score on the road, with no more than three goals in 6 of their last 8 away league matches. Additionally, Leipzig will be without their two main strikers, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda, who have scored nearly half of the team's goals this season (14 out of 29). This suggests a low-scoring game.
Bochum's recent home games fit this pattern, with no more than two goals scored in 4 of their last 5 league matches at home. This low scoring is due to the club's solid defense, conceding only two goals in their last four home league matches. The defense even held strong against the reigning champions, Bayer Leverkusen, in a 1-1 draw.
I believe this upcoming match will also be low-scoring. My prediction: Total under 3.5 goals