Bayer Leverkusen will aim to keep the pressure on Bayern Munich atop the Bundesliga when they host VfL Bochum at BayArena on Friday.
The international break is over, and it is all hands on deck until the 2024/25 season ends. The Bundesliga campaign resumes with Matchday 27, with the action kicking off on Friday evening with Bayer Leverkusen vs VfL Bochum at BayArena.
Bayer Leverkusen came into the 2024/25 season after an unprecedented campaign last term, which saw them going unbeaten in domestic football. However, while Xabi Alonso’s men have maintained a high level, they have not scaled the heights of 2023/24 while bowing out of the UEFA Champions League in the round of 16. However, faint hopes of defending their crown remain for the reigning Bundesliga champions, with Bayern Munich only six points ahead.
On the other hand, 2024/25 has been a dreadful season thus far for VfL Bochum, with relegation from the Bundesliga possible. The Undescendables are in the relegation playoff spot, with 17th-placed FC Heidenheim only a point behind. However, the visitors have shown promising signs in the last few weeks, losing only one of their last five Bundesliga games (W2 D2).
The reverse fixture saw Bochum come from a goal down to hold Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-1 draw, with Koji Miyoshi scoring the equaliser. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bayer Leverkusen manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players vs VfL Bochum on Friday.
Florian Wirtz is the most notable absentee, with the youngster recovering from a knock. The German international accompanies Mario Hermoso, Edmond Tapsoba, Jeanuel Belocian, Nathan Tella, and Martin Terrier.
Lukas Hradecky will take his spot between the sticks, with Bayer Leverkusen lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs VfL Bochum on Friday. The central defensive unit should feature Nordi Mukiele, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Granit Xhaka and Exequiel Palacios in the central areas. Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo pick themselves as the two wing-backs. Finally, Patrik Schick will lead the line for Bayer Leverkusen against VfL Bochum, with Aleix Garcia and Amine Adli completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Adli, Garcia; Schick
VfL Bochum
Unlike his counterpart in the Bayer Leverkusen dugout, Dieter Hecking has very few issues to worry about ahead of the trip to BayArena. The VfL Bochum manager will be without two first-team players on Friday.
Koji Miyoshi and Bernardo are the only absentees, with the duo unavailable to take on Bayer Leverkusen at BayArena on Friday. Otherwise, Hecking has a full-strength squad for Friday’s Bundesliga game.
Timo Horn is an automatic pick between the sticks, with VfL Bochum lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him vs Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. The central defensive unit should feature Tim Oerman, Ivan Ordets, and Jakov Medic.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Matus Bero, Ibrahima Sissoko, and Tom Krauss. Felix Passlack and Maximilian Wittek will be the two wing-backs, providing width and creativity from the flanks. Finally, Georgios Masouras and Philipp Hofmann should be the two strikers for the away side.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Horn; Oermann, Ordets, Medic; Passlack, Bero, Sissoko, Krauss, Wittek; Hofmann, Masouras
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Bochum have faced off 77 times in all competitions. Die Werkself have the upper hand in these meetings, having recorded 33 wins (D17 L27).
- Only two teams, Holstein Kiel (64) and Werder Bremen (53), have conceded more goals than VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga this season (52).
- Bayer Leverkusen have kept five clean sheets in their last seven meetings vs VfL Bochum.
- VfL Bochum are unbeaten in their three most recent away games in the Bundesliga, scoring six goals and conceding five times.
- Bayer Leverkusen have failed to find the back of the net in their last three home games across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Patrik Schick
While Aleix Garcia and Philipp Hofmann were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Patrik Schick as our Player to Watch for Friday’s Bundesliga match between Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Bochum at BayArena.
The Czech striker has usurped Victor Boniface as the first-choice striker for Bayer Leverkusen, and his scoring record is impressive. The 29-year-old has amassed 23 goals and one assist in only 1,891 minutes of game time. So, he will be Xabi Alonso’s go-to man for Friday’s league game as the hosts look to close the gap to Bayern Munich.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 VfL Bochum
Recent home form does not make for good reading for Bayer Leverkusen, while VfL Bochum’s record on the road in the last few weeks is impressive. However, with Die Werkself having faint hopes of retaining the Bundesliga title, the hosts should be at their best.
Patrik Schick and Aleix Garcia should rise to the occasion and deliver the goods. However, VfL Bochum will not go down without a fight, and they will give the hosts a run for their money. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Xabi Alonso and his charges.
