Bochum vs FC Koln prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-11-10 17:30.
From the outside looking in, the situation appears bleak for Bochum, who entered this round just two points outside of the relegation zone. But optimistic supporters may appreciate knowing that their eight points after ten rounds this season (W1, D5, L4) is double the tally they accumulated in their first ten games of 2022/23. Courtesy of their first win of the season in the previous round (W2-1 at Darmstadt), Bochum have now collected half of their season’s points across the last two rounds.
Next on Bochum’s agenda is to notch up their first home league win of 2023/24, with three draws from four outings (L1) showing they can’t be far away. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of their winless home record is the fact that, despite possessing one of the league’s least potent attacks (average of one goal per game), Bochum took the lead on three separate occasions at the Ruhrstadion.
The only side to score fewer goals than Bochum heading into this round are none other than rock-bottom Cologne (average per game: 0.8), making this a Saturday evening primetime battle of the Bundesliga’s bluntest battalions. Having the eyes of Germany and beyond on them doesn’t seem to help, as since defeating Werder Bremen 7-1 in their first primetime Saturday fixture of the 2023 calendar year, they’ve gone on to lose the following four by a staggering 15-2 combined scoreline!
Much like Bochum at home, Cologne are yet to win on their league travels this season, albeit without the steady return of draws for confidence (D1, L4). The Billy Goats have conceded 11 unanswered goals across three away league games since going 1-0 up at Bremen, and with no wins across their last three Bundesliga H2Hs (D2, L1), there is no guarantee that their sour streak will end here.
Players to watch: Takuma Asano put Bochum 1-0 and 2-1 up in their win over Darmstadt last weekend, securing his second brace of the league season along with his career-best return for a single German top-flight season (G4). Cologne captain Florian Kainz could be the man to drag his team away from trouble after scoring almost half (three of eight) of their league goals this season. He even assisted a goal in a 2-2 draw here in 2022.
Hot stat: Cologne boss Steffen Baumgart has lost just two of his nine personal meetings with Bochum (W4, D3).