Bochum might just turn their season around and save themselves from relegation against all expectations. While there is a lot of work to do, they are about to face Eintracht Frankfurt, who have been in terrible form in recent weeks.
It's interesting how Bochum lost to most of the weak teams in the Bundesliga, but did perfectly against the big favourites. The team recorded only one loss in the last five games, a 0-1 to Hoffenheim. And yet, they took a point against Wolfsburg and beat Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Of course, the Bavarians played with their reserves, but Bochum still managed to make the turnaround from 2-0 to 2-3 as guests.
The team still sits in the unenviable 16th place in the league, which would send them to the lower division. But the teams above them are in worse form than theirs, and even one win could be enough to see them out of the relegation zone. That is, of course, if St. Pauli lose their game.
Eintracht Frankfurt, on the other hand, are about to lose their place in the Top 4, which would be disastrous for a team that has to fight on several fronts. The Eagles have recorded three consecutive Bundesliga losses, even falling to Union Berlin who are around the bottom of the table. It should be noted that they did brilliantly against Ajax in the Europa League, but sacrificed a lot of points in the domestic league.
How the bookies view it: Closer than expected
Bookmakers expect a tied clash, not giving a huge advantage to the far stronger away team. You can pick Bochum at 21/10, the draw at 13/5, or the win for Eintracht Frankfurt at 6/5.
Recent head-to-head: Best Bundesliga match this season
Eintracht Frankfurt had their best game of the current season against Bochum in November. It was arguably the most attractive clash overall during the campaign, ending with a resounding 7-2 for the Eagles. That result is unlikely to be repeated, and it is imperative to note that Bochum have not lost to Eintracht once at home since they returned to the Bundesliga four years ago. They won two of the three home games and the last one ended at 1-1.
Players to watch: Ekitike has to step up
It is time for Hugo Ekitike to show what he is capable of if he wants Eintracht Frankfurt to play in the Champions League next season. The young Frenchman has been given the tough task of succeeding Omar Marmoush and is definitely among the most talented youngsters in the Bundesliga. He already has experience against this opponent, having scored two goals in the previous game, which they won 7-2.
Probable line-ups
Bochum: Horn, Oermann, Ordets, Medic, Wittek, Krauss, Sissoko, Bero, Passlack, Masouras, Hofmann
Eintracht Frankfurt: Santos, Tuta, Koch, Theate, Brown, Hojlund, Larsson, Kristensen, Gotze, Uzun, Ekitike
Anything else catch the eye?
We think the motivation of the home team has never been higher this season. The wins over Dortmund and Bayern will surely motivate them for more and Eintracht's form suggests that another surprise is entirely possible. The visitors have lost three consecutive Bundesliga games, conceding as many as 10 goals.
It is important to reiterate that Bochum have yet to lose to Eintracht at home, at least since they returned to the elite around four years ago. We expect them to again prove to be an insurmountable opponent for the Eagles, even though Eintracht scored seven goals in the reverse fixture.
This German Bundesliga match between Bochum and Eintracht Frankfurt will be played on and kick off at 14:30. Check below for our tipsters best Bochum vs Eintracht Frankfurt prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
Bochum vs Eintracht Frankfurt Betting Tips & Predictions
Further Reading
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