RB Leipzig vs Bochum prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-08-23 13:30.
[p]RB Leipzig got their campaign off to the ideal start as they ran out 4-1 winners in the DFB-Pokal against third-tier Rot-Weiss Essen, though the real test starts this weekend in the Bundesliga against Bochum. Optimism is rife at the RB Arena, as despite losing Dani Olmo to Barcelona in the Summer, Leipzig kept hold of Benjamin Šeško and secured another season of Xavi Simons’ services to bolster their attack.[/p]
[p]Improving on last season’s fourth-placed finish is the goal, and Marco Rose’s men will be full of belief they can make a positive start given their dominant H2H record in this fixture (W9, D1, L1). An undefeated return in home matches against Bochum (W5, D1) suggests that Leipzig are well placed to continue a proud record of never losing their opening Bundesliga home fixture since reaching the top-flight (W6, D2)! [/p]
[p]After staying up on penalties following an extraordinary comeback in their relegation play-off against Fortuna Düsseldorf, Bochum have endured a difficult summer to date. The loss of key players Kevin Stöger, Patrick Osterhage and Takuma Asano is hardly the welcome new manager Peter Zeidler was looking for as he aims to steer the Blues to another season of safety in the Bundesliga.[/p]
[p]It’s been far from an ideal start too, as Bochum were dumped out of the DFB-Pokal by second-tier Jahn Regensburg last week. That was not the way Zeidler was hoping to endear himself to his new fans, but sorting their dreadful away form would go some way to doing that as the Blues won just one of their final 11 away league matches last term (D2, L8)![/p]
[p]Players to watch: After an uninspiring time at Euro 2024, Ĺ eško began 2024/25 with a bang by getting a goal and an assist against Rot-Weiss Essen – he also scored in each of his previous seven Bundesliga matches! Key to Bochum’s league survival was Philipp Hofmann, who netted twice away at DĂĽsseldorf in a 3-0 win in the relegation play-off.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Bochum’s last six Bundesliga matches, including the two relegation play-off legs, have seen a total of 28 goals scored. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]