Bochum vs TSG Hoffenheim

Bochum’s fight against Bundesliga relegation continues at Vonovia Ruhrstadion against perennial mid-table strugglers TSG Hoffenheim.

Bochum’s form has been in a freefall since an unexpected win against perennial champions Bayern Munich in February, with the hosts going winless in eight consecutive league games since (D2, L5). Last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Wolfsburg left them pinned to the bottom three on goal difference, highlighting the importance of returning to winning ways in this fixture. Heiko Butscher’s men have every reason to look forward to Hoffenheim’s visit after beating them in four of their last six Bundesliga H2Hs (L2), including a thumping 5-2 victory in this match-up in 2022/23. Moreover, far more comfortable on home turf, ‘Die Unabsteigbaren’ have claimed 20 of their 27 points at Vonovia Ruhrstadion, though they’re winless in their last four home league games (D2, L2).

In the meantime, Hoffenheim’s notorious problems with inconsistency have seen them win four of their last nine Bundesliga matches and lose the other five. Despite giving up the lead twice, the visitors squeezed past Borussia Monchengladbach 4-3 in last weekend’s enthralling contest, securing an opportunity to win back-to-back league outings for only the third time this season. However, Hoffenheim’s see-saw away record on the road this term (W6, D2, L7) can’t inspire much confidence. Neither can the fact three of those seven defeats have come on their last three top-flight travels, most recently a 4-1 demolition at the hands of relegation-threatened Mainz. Perhaps surprisingly, given their dismal away form, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men have netted a first-half opener in their last five league games on the road (W1, D1, L3).