Bochum take on the visitors Schalke in the round 23 match of German Bundesliga. The match will be played on Saturday, February 4th at Vonovia Ruhrstadion (Bochum).
Bochum are purely a home team. Yes, in four of the last five rounds they suffered defeats, but three of them were away. The team has been playing great in their home games lately. In the last five home matches, Bochum has only lost once to the strong Freiburg. In the other four matches, they have won, scoring at least two goals in each: 2-1 over Union, 2-1 over Borussia Mönchengladbach, 3-1 over Hertha, and 5-2 over Hoffenheim. In the match against Schalke, the hosts could easily score over 1.5 goals by themselves, but no one would be surprised if someone scored against Thomas Letsch's team. However, it is unlikely that the hosts will lose.
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Schalke have improved noticeably recently, that must be recognized. The team has not suffered a defeat for five rounds in a row, and is just three points away from the safety zone. The whole struggle for survival is ahead! However, in away matches this season, Gelsenkirchen is far worse than at home - four draws, six losses, and no wins. It is unlikely that we will see Thomas Reis's team win now. Even considering two goalless draws away, Schalke has conceded 16 goals in 10 away games. In the previous match, the team also failed to keep a clean sheet, beating Stuttgart 2-1. I think there is a chance for the guests to score at the "RheinEnergieStadion". However, they are likely to concede one or two goals.
In this match, I expect a roughly equal game between two direct competitors in the fight for survival. There is nowhere for the teams to retreat, both are in the relegation zone, at the bottom of the table. There is no point for either the hosts or the guests to sit back in defense. Therefore, I expect at least two goals in this match. In 22 rounds of the Bundesliga, Schalke has scored over 1.5 goals with its opponents 14 times, while Bochum has done it 20 times. Both teams have been struggling to score goals lately. But who else can score against two outsiders, if not against each other's goal? Despite all this, I do not believe that Bochum will lose. In the last five home matches of the league, this team lost only once. Schalke has not won away this season.
Prediction for the match: Bochum not to lose and over 1.5 scored goals.
