Bayer Leverkusen v Bochum Preview & Betting Tips

Bundesliga | Friday 28 March | Kick-off: 19:30 UTC

After a busy fixture schedule and a challenging few weeks, Bayer Leverkusen return from the international break with renewed energy and optimism. Xabi Alonso’s side had been showing signs of fatigue before the break, but they’ll now look to refocus as they host relegation-threatened Bochum.

Leverkusen’s dramatic comeback win against Stuttgart before the break when coming from 3-1 down to win 4-3 ended a three-game losing streak. That kind of character could be a turning point. With their European commitments over, the Bundesliga remains their top priority, just 6 points off Bayern Munich.

Bochum Battling for Survival

While Leverkusen aim for a strong title push in the remaining games, Bochum are locked in a relegation scrap. They’ve shown flashes of fight, including an incredible 3-2 win over Bayern Munich and a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. But their inconsistency continues to plague them.

Bochum have lost just 2 of their last 6 league outings, but away form remains a major concern. They’ve failed to score in 4 of their last 8 Bundesliga matches on the road.

How Insant Casino Sees It

No surprises here as Leverkusen are strong favourites at 1.33 to claim all three points. A draw is priced at 6.20, while Bochum are heavy outsiders at 11.00.

Recent Head-to-Head: BayArena a Fortress

Leverkusen boast a dominant home record against Bochum, winning all three home meetings since Bochum’s return to the Bundesliga in 2021. Even more impressively, they’ve yet to concede a single goal in those fixtures (7-0 on aggregate).

Player to Watch: Schick in Sensational Form

Patrik Schick is flying right now. The Czech forward scored three times during the international break and now has 17 league goals to his name this season. He’s also got a strong record against Bochum, with 5 goals in 3 previous meetings. He’s 1.80 to score anytime.

Predicted Line-Ups

Leverkusen: Hradecky, Hincapie, Andrich, Tah, Grimaldo, Xhaka, Palacios, Frimpong, Adli, Schick, Buendia
Bochum: Horn, Bernardo, Ordets, Ouermann, Passlack, Bero, Sissoko, Krauss, Wittek, Masouras, Hofmann

Anything Else Catch the Eye?

Bochum have never scored at the BayArena in their modern Bundesliga stint, and that stat alone makes ‘Leverkusen to win to nil’ worth a close look at 2.00. Despite a rocky stretch defensively, I expect a fully focused Leverkusen to keep things tight at the back.

Another angle worth exploring is the halftime market. Leverkusen have often started quickly at home, and Bochum tend to concede early. Backing the hosts to lead at the break could offer value.