Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Bochum Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 German Bundesliga Relegation Play-off
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Bochum need a miracle away from home to turn this relegation play-off tie around in the second-leg following Fortuna Dusseldorf’s 0-3 first-leg win, which leaves them within touching distance of promotion to the Bundesliga.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Monday 27th May 2024, UK – 19:30 / US EST – 14:30 / US PST – 11:30
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports schedule / US – ESPN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
FORTUNA DUSSELDORF PREVIEW: WITH A THREE-GOAL ADVANTAGE, FORTUNA RETURN HOME WITH THE ODDS STACKED IN THEIR FAVOUR
Fortuna Dusseldorf can almost taste promotion to the Bundesliga after a quite magnificent first-leg performance in Bochum saw them upset the odds by pulling off a potentially tie-defining margin of victory, winning by three goals to nil. A Philipp Hofmann own goal set them on their way, before a dream ten-minute period in the second-half has put them well on course from promotion, doubling their lead through Felix Klaus before Yannik Engelhardt added a third eight minutes later.
All Fortuna have to do now is avoid defeat by a three-goal margin in the second-leg at home, where they will no doubt be welcomed by a jubilant home crowd. But the tie is not over yet and it goes without saying that Daniel Thioune will ensure zero complacency within his side. But having not lost in their last eight fixtures, they couldn’t be in a better position.
BOCHUM PREVIEW: A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES REQUIRED FOR BOCHUM TO SAVE THEMSELVES FROM DROPPING TO 2. BUNDESLIGA
Thursday night couldn’t really have gone any worse for Bochum. Not only were the Bundesliga club beaten at home, they were beaten comprehensively and now face a mountain to climb in Dusseldorf if they are to retain their German top flight status, trailing by three goals on aggregate. Ahead of the first-leg, Bochum would have been the team expected to find themselves in the ascendancy, but the script was flipped after the hosts conceded the first goal.
Bochum can at least take some sort of positive from the fact that they created opportunities in the first-leg, hitting the post after going behind and they’ll need to do the same again on the road, only this time they cannot afford to spurn them. If they do, then their three-year spell in the Bundesliga will come to an end.
FORTUNA DUSSELDORF TEAM NEWS: UNCHANGED XI IS EXPECTED FROM FORTUNA, WITH SIEBERT STILL THEIR ONLY ABSENTEE
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Kastenmeier; Zimmermann, Oberdorf, De Wijs, Iyoha; Engelhardt, Tanaka; Klaus, Sobottka, Tzolis; Vermeij
UNAVAILABLE: Siebert (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BOCHUM TEAM NEWS: ILLNESS COULD RULE OUT MASOVIC, SKIPPER LOSILLA LIKELY TO START
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Luthe; Gamboa, Ordets, Schlotterbeck, Bernardo; Losilla, Osterhage; Broschinski, Stoger, Wittek; Hofmann,
UNAVAILABLE: Esser (Injured), Forster (Injured), Kwarteng (Injured), Tolba (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Masovic (Illness)
FORTUNA DUSSELDORF VS BOCHUM PREDICTION
With a three-goal aggregate deficit to overturn, Bochum really have no choice but to throw everything at their opponents offensively, even if it leaves them exposed at the back should they turn over possession. An early goal for the visitors would be crucial psychologically as it would give Bochum the belief that they can pull off a memorable comeback.
However, it’s hard not to see Fortuna Dusseldorf on their own ground fashioning some big chances of their own, with extra space inside the opposition half likely to be afforded to them due to the risks that need to be taken by Bochum. With that in mind, both teams to score may well be on the cards in this second-leg.
FORTUNA DUSSELDORF VS BOCHUM TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
