Bayer Leverkusen can temporarily cut the lead at the top of Bundesliga standings as they host relegation-threatened Bochum in a matchday 27 meeting. This match at BayArena on Friday between the second-placed Die Schwarzroten and the 16th-placed Die Blauen comes with our prediction of over 2.5 goals.
Leverkusen have 56 points and are six points behind leaders Bayern, while Bochum’s 20 points keep them five points outside safety places. The defending champions went into the international break after a surreal 4-3 away win at Stuttgart, where they scored twice from the 88th minute onwards.
That made up for the loss to Werder Bremen in the previous round, giving them three wins from four league matches. Crucially though, they have won just one point from their last two home league matches.
Bochum were beaten 3-1 at home by Eintracht Frankfurt in their last game before the break, making it just two wins from their nine recent league matches (W2, D3, L4).
They are still stuck in the relegation zone, and a record of conceding 52 goals has been a concern. That said, Bochum avoided defeat in four of their last six away league matches and have even won five points from the last three trips.
The two teams have squared off 77 times in all competitions. Leverkusen have the upper hand in these meetings, recording 33 wins. The visitors are not far behind with 27 wins and 17 games have ended in draws.
Only two teams, Holstein Kiel (64) and Werder Bremen (53), have conceded more goals than Die Unabsteigbaren in the Bundesliga this season (52).
Leverkusen have kept five clean sheets in their last seven meetings against the visitors.
Bochum are unbeaten in their last three away games in the Bundesliga, scoring six goals while conceding five times.
Bayer Leverkusen have suffered two losses in the Bundesliga this season. Interestingly, both have been registered at home.
Only league leaders Bayern Munich have a better goalscoring record than the hosts in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 75 goals, 16 more than the defending champions. Leverkusen have failed to score in their last three home games in all competitions.
