VfL Bochum vs. Borussia Dortmund : Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 28)
Initial Thoughts
With one team seeking an historic title and the other fighting to stay in the division, Borussia Dortmund’s trip to VfL Bochum on Friday night could have massive implications at both the top and bottom of the Bundesliga.
The Narrative
It’s no understatement to say that Bayern Munich have owned the Bundesliga for a good while now.
You’d have to go back more than a decade to find the last time Bayern didn't finish top of the German topflight, with the Bavarian giants claiming every single title since the 2012/13 campaign.
In fact, the only team other than Bayern to win the league in the last 12 years is Borussia Dortmund, who powered to the title courtesy of a 28 game unbeaten run between September and May back in 2009/10.
With a certain Jurgen Klopp at the helm and a certain Robert Lewandowski leading the line, Dortmund had been top of the league for 15 weeks by the time they lifted the Bundesliga trophy that year.
But if Bayern are to be dethroned this season it’ll be a much tighter affair, with BVB having sneaked up into 1st place on the weekend for only the second time this season, and with only a single point separating the two sides with seven games to play.
Dortmund travel to the Vonovia-Ruhrstadion on Friday evening to face a VfL Bochum side struggling at the other end of the table. Thomas Letsch’s side are hovering just above the drop zone and badly needing a win in their pursuit of top flight football next season.
Nuts and Bolts
Thomas Letsch took over as caretaker manager back in September after Bochum began the season with six straight defeats under Thomas Reis.
The new boss made an instant impact, overseeing two wins and a draw in the next six outings, and then three wins on the bounce to take Bochum to 14th in the table.
Coming into Friday night’s game, Bochum had lost just one of their last five matches. But last weekend they suffered a 5-1 demolition at the hands of Wolfsburg, which will no doubt affect their confidence ahead of Dortmund’s visit tomorrow.
BVB have been in stunning form this year, putting together an eight game winning streak between January and March and losing just a single game so far in 2023.
And Edin Terzić’s side arrive in Friday night’s game on the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.
Dortmund are winless in their last five away matches in all competitions, and although they ran out 2-1 winners last time these side met, the scoreline was level until the last 20 minutes, suggesting Bochum are more than capable of handling their own in this matchup.
Homestand Picks
All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets
Bochum have shipped eight in their last two home fixtures, while Dortmund have scored three or more goals in four of that last five matches.
Donyell Malen Anytime Goal (+165)
Dutch winger Donyell Malen has been on fire of late, with six goals and three assists in BVB’s last five outings.
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