Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen on and what time does it start? Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen will take place on Saturday 27th May, 2023 – 14:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to German Bundesliga matches in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen
Where can I stream Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
BOCHUM
Bochum come into the final round of the Bundesliga campaign with three outcomes still on the table in regards to their fate. They could stay up, they could find themselves in the relegation play-off, or they could suffer the disastrous fate of being automatically relegated. As it stands, they occupy 16th-place, but only goal difference is currently keeping them inside the bottom three. However, on the flip side Bochum are just a point above 17th-placed Schalke 04 and defeat against Bayer Leverkusen would see them relegated if Schalke 04 wins their game.
The penultimate weekend of the season was a huge one from Bochum’s perspective as they faced a ‘relegation six-pointer’ away at Hertha Berlin. In what was an understandably cagey affair, Bochum went behind just after the hour mark, Lucas Tousart scoring the opening goal for Hertha. However, the hosts found themselves pinned back as Bochum desperately pushed bodies forward and were finally rewarded deep into second half stoppage time. A corner led to a free header from the unmarked Keven Schlotterbeck, who nodded the ball into the net and stole a priceless point for Bochum, relegating Hertha in the process.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Whilst Bayer Leverkusen still have European qualification in their own hands, they’ll be furious that only one point separates them from seventh-placed Wolfsburg after throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Borussia Monchengladbach this past Sunday. This result extends the winless run of Xabi Alonso’s side in the Bundesliga to four games. The draw did however, take them to the 50-point-mark this season. When taking into account the strength of their squad though, Bayer Leverkusen may feel as if they could have done even better.
They quickly advanced into a 2-0 lead at home against Borussia Monchengladbach, the goals coming from Amine Adli and Kerem Demirbay on 15 minutes and 20 minutes respectively. They held that lead into half time, but the visitors rallied in the second half, getting one back after 58 minutes through Jonas Hofmann. It looked as if Bayer Leverkusen had weathered the storm, but came unstuck late on as Borussia Monchengladbach levelled in the 90th minute, Lars Stindl the goalscorer.
THE TEAM NEWS
BOCHUM
Expect Bochum to set up with four at the back, three central midfielders and a three-pronged attack. Asano, Hofmann and Antwi-Adjei have proven the preferred front three over the course of the season, whilst both Danilo Soares and Dominique Heintz are battling for the left-back spot. Keven Schlotterbeck provides a significant aerial threat from set pieces as he showed against Hertha Berlin and could play another critical role in this contest.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Riemann; Janko, Ordets, Schlotterbeck, Soares; Losilla, Masovic, Stoger; Asano, Hofmann, Antwi-Adjei
UNAVAILABLE: Stafylidis (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Two first-team players in Kerem Demirbay and Piero Hincapie won’t be available for Bayer Leverkusen as both are suspended. They join the likes of Patrik Schick, Robert Andrich, Karim Bellarabi and Odilon Koussounou on the sidelines, all of whom are injured. Xabi Alonso though, has a number of options to choose from in attack and in a match of this importance, it would be no surprise if Sardar Azmoun is given the nod alongside Moussa Diaby, with Florian Wirtz pulling the strings behind them.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Hradecky; Fosu-Mensah, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Palacios, Amiri, Bakker; Wirtz; Diaby, Azmoun
UNAVAILABLE: Andrich (Injured), Bellarabi (Injured), Demirbay (Suspended), Hincapie (Suspended), Kossounou (Injured), Schick (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lunev (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Both teams have so much to play for here, Bochum are fighting for survival, Bayer Leverkusen are fighting for Europe. In terms of recent results, it’s Bochum who come into this match stronger form wise, when considering that Xabi Alonso’s side have to win in their last four league games, not to mention having been eliminated in the Europa League semi-finals. With Bochum also boasting home advantage and fighting for their lives, it would be no surprise to see them offer more in terms of energy, work-rate and general spirit than Leverkusen. Backing the hosts to triumph via the draw no bet market for extra security is well worth considering.
TIP: BOCHUM DRAW NO BET