- Home form: TSV Eintracht Braunschweig have won just 1, drawn 3 and lost 1 of their last 5 home games, scoring only 4 goals across those 5 games.
- Away form: VfL Bochum have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 5 away games, conceding just 5 goals in that time.
- Head-to-head: VfL Bochum have a superior recent H2H record with 2 wins in their last 2 meetings against TSV Eintracht Braunschweig.
Bochum can hold Braunschweig at the Eintracht Stadion
TSV Eintracht Braunschweig have been very inconsistent in all competitions in recent weeks (W2, D3, L5) and are certainly not the most natural side to back in this Friday's 2. Bundesliga clash with VfL Bochum at the Eintracht Stadion. Lars Kornetka's men have been set up in a 4-2-3-1 system and have been playing a well-structured, compact and methodical build-up game with the two pivots dictating the play.
However, Braunschweig have struggled to be consistent in transition and haven't been getting enough quality into the forward areas, which has cost them dearly. Their latest two results – a 0-1 home defeat to Southampton and a 0-0 home draw with RAAL La Louviere, have seen the edge that Braunschweig have been getting elsewhere in the campaign disappear.
It's not the sort of form that promises easy passage against 2. Bundesliga Bochum.
The Blues’ recent home form hasn’t been so hot
Playing style
Bochum will have the onus to get forward and create turnovers in the final third as Uwe Rösler has them pressing and playing on the front foot in the 2. Bundesliga. They've been successful in transition and have been able to use wide play and quick counters as their main weapon.
Recent form
The Bochum side have also been a little up and down in recent matches (W1, D2, L2), but they have been much more difficult to break down than Braunschweig in that period. The Blues' most recent games have seen them lose 0-2 away to Werder Bremen, draw 0-0 at home to Sheffield United and lose 0-1 at home to Hertha Berlin.
Key points
- However, they have enough solidity in their recent away form (W2, D2, L1) to travel to Braunschweig and get the three points.
- They have a good H2H record against the hosts (W2) and can make life tough for Kornetka's side.
- A BTTS-Yes bet looks better than a 0-0 stalemate here, given the relative vulnerability of both sides over the last few games.
Inconsistent sides could produce an inconsistent game
This looks a very even game with both sides coming into it in inconsistent form. The market agrees as Braunschweig and Bochum are both priced at 2.6 and the draw at 3.4.
We're taking Bochum's edge in this one, but it should be a tight contest, so there could be a push for a draw if Braunschweig get things going.
