Bochum vs Freiburg prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-03-09 14:30.
[p]Despite entering this round of fixtures sitting 15th following back-to-back losses for the first time since late September, Bochum are still eight points clear of Cologne, who occupy the Bundesliga’s relegation play-off place. Those comprehensive defeats to Borussia Mönchengladbach (5-2) and RB Leipzig (4-1) mean it is the first time that Bochum have conceded 4+ goals in successive top-flight matches since March 2010![/p]
[p]After the result at home to RB Leipzig last weekend, Bochum will be eager to put things right on their own patch, having lost just twice at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion in 12 league outings this season (W4, D6). A leaky defence continually threatens to be their undoing though, as across the whole Bundesliga season, only bottom-of-the-table Darmstadt have let in more goals (58) than the 50 conceded by Thomas Letsch’s men going into this weekend. [/p]
[p]Freiburg may be jaded after beating West Ham United 1-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie, but they will have fond memories of the reverse fixture against Bochum, when they earned a 2-1 comeback victory. That is the only time that Christian Streich’s side have won a league game this term after falling behind (D4, L10), and such a poor record perhaps offers some explanation as to why they’re playing catch-up in the European race. [/p]
[p]European qualification via a top-six finish will not be necessary if they sensationally win the Europa League, but the Breisgau Brazilians won’t want to leave anything to chance. They must first find a way to end a six-match winless Bundesliga run (D2, L4) – their longest such streak since a nine-game sequence between September and December 2020 (D5, L4). Some torrid away form has contributed to that, as Freiburg have slipped to eight league defeats on the road this campaign – the joint-most in the division heading into this round – but five successive H2H wins should boost belief they can end their winless run here. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Despite being a centre-back, Bochum’s Keven Schlotterbeck, on loan from Freiburg, has scored in two of Bochum’s last three matches. Michael Gregoritsch is also in decent attacking form, registering four goal contributions in his last five games (G3, A1). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: No side in the Bundesliga has conceded more goals after the 75th minute this season than Freiburg’s 11 heading into this weekend.[/p]