Freiburg vs Bochum prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-10-20 13:30.
After a couple of heavy losses in recent months, Freiburg head coach Christian Streich believes the squad will âneed a lot of passion this seasonâ in order to match their heroics of 2022/23. The manager guided his side to their joint-highest finish for nearly three decades with a fifth-place standing in the previous Bundesliga season, but three defeats in seven outings (W3, D1), all against sides in the top four during the international break, mean they currently have to settle for a mid-table slot this time around.
The most recent of those losses was a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich, following hot on the heels of a UEFA Europa League loss to West Ham. Streich will therefore be hoping the international break came at a good time for the Breisgau Brazilians, who should be confident of avoiding a third straight reversal at Europa-Park Stadion, where they have been beaten just three times in their last 19 league outings (W12, D4).
Looking to pile on further misery are visitors Bochum, although their horror start to the season of seven games without a win (D4, L3) does not inspire much hope. Things at least appeared to be picking up for Thomas Letschâs side before club footballâs brief hiatus, with the boss describing himself as âproudâ after a 0-0 draw at RB Leipzig in which he believed his side âgave everythingâ.
That clean sheet, the Bluesâ first of the season, came as a bit of surprise given they still finished matchday seven with the divisionâs joint-worst defence, conceding 19 times already. âGlass half fullâ fans should draw more optimism from the fact that Bochum have already accumulated three more points than at the same stage last season, but to stave off relegation yet again, they must surely improve on a record of just one win in their last 13 away league fixtures (D5, L7).
Players to watch: Freiburg defender Matthias Ginter has won all of his four personal H2Hs, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last three. One man attempting to end that streak is Bochumâs joint-top scorer Kevin Stöger, who will also be looking to improve on a record of just five wins from the dozen Bundesliga games in which he has scored (D4, L3), including two draws this season.
Hot stat: Freiburg have registered just two goals after half-time this Bundesliga season