Defending the league title looks like a massive task for Xabi Alonso’s men at this point in time. They are already seven points behind league leaders Bayern Munich and cannot afford to drop any more points going forward. The game against VfL Bochum might be the perfect opportunity for Bayer Leverkusen to get things back on track.

The home team are bottom of the points table in the Bundesliga. They have lost eight out of their nine league games and only have a point to their name. VfL Bochum have lost their last five league games.

The hosts are heading into this fixture on the back of a massive 7-2 defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt. They will have to punch above their weight if they want to take down Xabi Alonso’s team.

The visitors’ title defence is not going according to plan as they are fourth in the league. While they were unbeaten last season, they have already suffered a defeat and have only won one out of their last five league games.

Bayer Leverkusen are heading into this fixture on the back of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League and in Bochum, they have the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.

Team News & Tactics

VfL Bochum

The home team will be without the services of Bernardo and Myron Boadu. Meanwhile, shot-stopper Manuel Riemann remains suspended because of internal issues.

Bochum will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Patrick Drewes will be in goal. The back four will consist of Felix Passlack, Jakov Medic, Ivan Ordets, and Maximilian Wittek. Passlack and Wittek will be the full-backs with the other two featuring in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Koji Miyoshi and Dani de Wit will feature out wide on the flanks. Ibrahima Sissoko and Anthony Losilla will feature in a more central role looking to shield the backline as well as provide a base to attack. Moritz Broschinski will partner Philipp Hofmann up top in attack.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Drewes; Passlack, Medic, Ordets, Wittek; Miyoshi, Sissoko, Losilla, De Wit; Broschinski, Hofmann

Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso will be without the services of Amine Adli, Jeanuel Belocian, and Nordi Mukiele this weekend. Bayer Leverkusen will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against VfL Bochum, with Lukas Hradecky in goal. Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie will feature in the heart of the defence.

The back three will aim to keep things tight at the back, and they will have the support of Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo, who will feature as the wing-backs.

Florian Wirtz and Martin Terrier will be the two attacking midfielders in behind star striker Victor Boniface, who will continue to lead the line.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface

Key Stats

• Bayer Leverkusen have only won one out of their last five league games (D4).
• Xabi Alonso’s team have won 15 out of their last 29 matches against Bochum, who have won 10 of those fixtures.
• Over the years, the home team have won a total of 17 games against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. They have a better record against just two teams in the history of the competitions.
• VfL Bochum have only managed to pick up a point in their nine league outings so far. This is their joint-worst start to a new season.
• Bayer Leverkusen have picked up 16 points in their nine outings this season, they had nine more points to their name at this stage last season.

Player to Watch

Florian Wirtz

While Bayer Leverkusen have not been able to reach the levels they did last season, Wirtz still remains one of their best players on the pitch. He has scored seven goals and also has an assist to his name in his 16 outings and will be eager to add to it when he takes the field against Bochum.

Prediction

VfL Bochum 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen

Bochum are yet to win a game this season, and that is unlikely to change when they face Leverkusen on Saturday. While the visitors have not been at their best, they still have enough quality in their squad to get past the bottom-placed team in the league. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the visitors.