Borussia Dortmund vs Bochum Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 German Bundesliga
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Following a stunning 5-1 defeat away at Stuttgart which dramatically ended Nuri Sahin’s unbeaten start as head coach, Borussia Dortmund are looking to take their frustrations from last Sunday out on Bochum at Signal Iduna Park.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday September 27th 2024 – UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
BORUSSIA DORTMUND PREVIEW: STUTTGART SHOCK A WAKE-UP CALL FOR SAHIN
Not many people expected Borussia Dortmund to be defeated in the manner they were by Stuttgart. They had been defensively sound for the most part of the season, but their opponents last weekend cut them open at will, recording 17 shots including nine on target. Five of those went in the net and Serhou Guirassy’s goal against his old club proved nothing more than a consolation.
The result will have no doubt come as a surprise to Nuri Sahin and a stark reminder as to the challenges of a long Bundesliga season, especially when mixed with European commitments. It will be interesting to see how the rookie head coach reacts to such a result and what sort of Dortmund side we will see on the pitch here at home.
BOCHUM PREVIEW: ON THE BOARD BUT IN AN UNSATISFACTORY MANNER
After three straight Bundesliga games without picking up a single point, Bochum finally avoided defeat for the first time this campaign, recording a first point of the campaign. However, they will have wanted and arguably expected more against newly promoted Holstein Kiel, who like Bochum had lost their opening three league fixtures.
After falling behind inside a minute, Bochum battled back to go 2-1 up in the first half vs one of the only teams below them in the table. That was how it stayed up until the last minute of normal time when Shuto Machino scored to grab a point for Holstein Kiel, much to the displeasure of the home support.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND TEAM NEWS: NMECHA JOINS REYNA ON SIDELINES
Midfielder Felix Nmecha won’t play any part in this one after having suffered a muscular injury, whilst Giovanni Reyna is once again unavailable due to a groin problem which has already sidelined him for the past couple of weeks.
PREDICTED XI: (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Couto; Gross, Can; Malen, Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
UNAVAILABLE: Nmecha (Injured), Reyna (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BOCHUM TEAM NEWS: ORDETS IN RACE TO PROVE FITNESS
Bochum centre-back Ivan Ordets is hoping to be passed fit to play in Dortmund, however the match comes too soon for both Bernardo and Koji Miyoshi, who miss out with knee and hip injuries respectively.
PREDICTED XI: (4-1-3-2): Drewes; Passlack, Medic, Loosli, Wittek; Sissoko; De Wit, Bero, Daschner; Hofmann, Boadu
UNAVAILABLE: Bernardo (Injured), Miyoshi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Ordets (Fitness)
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS BOCHUM PREDICTION
A response is expected from Borussia Dortmund after the events of last weekend and an emphatic one at that. This likely to prove a long night for Bochum, who will surely struggle to keep out a home team desperately to put things right by restoring some pride and repairing the damage caused to their goal difference. With that in mind, back Dortmund to triumph here over Bochum by at least two clear goals.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS BOCHUM TIP: BORUSSIA DORTMUND TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
