FC Koln vs Bochum prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-04-05 13:30.
[p]If Cologne are to hold on to their place in the Bundesliga, they can ill-afford to lose to relegation rivals Bochum in what is arguably their biggest fixture of the season so far. The Billy Goats sit  17th in the table, seven points and two spots behind their next opponents, following a miserable run of seven top flight fixtures without a victory (D4, L3).[/p]
[p]The most recent of those games was a 1-1 draw at Augsburg, when Timo Schultz’s side conceded first for the 15th time in this Bundesliga season. Given they have failed to win a single league game this season when going 1-0 down (D3, L12), the first goal should be crucial, but a sequence of one victory in their last nine Bundesliga outings at the RheinEnergieStadion (D3, L5) provides little suggestion of an improvement coming any time soon.[/p]
[p]That might offer some much needed confidence for their visitors, who have a poor H2H record of winning just six of the last 22 meetings (D5, L11). The Blues are also on a miserable run themselves, failing to win at home to last-placed Darmstadt (2-2) after four consecutive league defeats since a shock victory over Bayern Munich in February. Consequently, they have slipped to within six points of the relegation play-off place.[/p]
[p]Such form has applied some pressure on manager Thomas Letsch, who is fighting to extend the club’s two-year stint in the top-flight. If they are to stay up, then surely an improvement on the road is required, as Bochum held the division’s joint-worst away record ahead of this fixture, winning just once from 13 attempts on their travels (D4, L8) whilst conceding a league-high 35 goals in the process.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Six of Florian Kainz’s last eight goals for Cologne have been from the penalty spot, including each of his three strikes this season. His fellow Austrian Kevin Stöger has seen six of his last seven goals for Bochum serve as the first or last of the match, with five of those strikes also coming from the penalty spot.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Cologne have scored a league-low four first-half Bundesliga goals on home soil this season.[/p]