Bayer Leverkusen vs Bochum

BayArena is the venue as Bayer Leverkusen and Bochum go head-to-head in a high-stakes Bundesliga showdown.

Bayer Leverkusen’s title-defending Bundesliga campaign got back on track on the stroke of the international break as a 4-3 away win against Stuttgart saw them close the gap on table-topping Bayern Munich to six points. Ominously for ‘Die Werkself,’ only Stuttgart in 2006/07 overturned such a gap this late in a Bundesliga season since the introduction of a three-points-per-win era. However, Xabi Alonso’s side should be confident of holding up their end of the bargain against Bochum, a side they’ve defeated in their last four H2Hs on home turf. Despite halting a dismal three-game losing streak in all competitions, Leverkusen cannot take anything for granted, especially considering they’ve lost four of their last eight Friday-held Bundesliga home matches (W2, D2).

Meanwhile, Bochum spent the international break in the relegation playoff spot after slumping to a 3-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt. However, the visitors have shown signs of life after a disastrous first half of the season, avoiding defeat in four of their last six league outings (W2, D2, L2) to steer away from the bottom of the table. Furthermore, they pulled off a sensational comeback to beat Bayern Munich 3-2 on their most recent Bundesliga travel, posting their first away win against the division’s top-11 teams this season (D1, L8). Another upset doesn’t look likely, not least because they have failed to get on the scoresheet on their last three top-flight visits to Leverkusen’s home ground (L3).