Bochum take on the visitors Borussia Monchengladbach in the round 2 match of German Bundesliga. The match will be played on Saturday, August 31st at Vonovia Ruhrstadion (Bochum).
Last season, Bochum found themselves in relegation play-offs to retain their place in the top tier of German football. In a fiercely contested battle, they managed to defeat Fortuna Düsseldorf. However, it's clear that the club can't be satisfied with its performance—issues are evident, and something needs to be done. During the offseason, Bochum played several friendly matches, though most were against lower-tier opponents, so I wouldn’t read too much into those results. In terms of transfers, the team didn't spend much money: they brought in free agents and had to rely on some loan deals. In the first round of the new season, Bochum faced Leipzig in what turned out to be an intense match, ending 1-0 in Leipzig's favor. The game could have easily seen more goals, as the xG statistics suggest.
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A couple of seasons ago, this team was competing in the Champions League and aiming for top spots in the Bundesliga. But then a sharp decline began, to the point where last season, they were just one point away from the relegation zone. From a gameplay perspective, Borussia had an excellent preseason, remaining unbeaten in all matches, though their opponents weren’t particularly strong. They made some solid signings, including Kleindienst from Heidenheim for €7 million, and picked up a few free agents that the coaching staff believes can strengthen the squad. In the first match of the new season, Borussia faced a tough challenge against the reigning champions, Bayer Leverkusen. It was a thrilling game, with the champion securing a victory by scoring a decisive goal in the dying moments (3-2). But Borussia looked lively, to be honest.
Both teams finished near the bottom of the table last season. With the new Bundesliga campaign underway, they now need to prove themselves once again. Like the analysts and bookmakers, I can’t see a clear favorite in this match. Bochum has conceded in 17 consecutive Bundesliga games, while Borussia knows how to score—they put two past the champions, Bayer. Last season, both meetings between these teams ended in victories for Mönchengladbach: 3-1 and 5-2. Borussia has consistently scored at least two goals in these encounters, and I expect something similar this time. Therefore, I’m backing Borussia to score over 1.5 goals.
Prediction for the match: Borussia Monchengladbach to score over 1.5 goals.
