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Leipzig logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 7
Oct 2, 2021 at 5.30pm UK
Red Bull Arena
VfL Bochum

RB Leipzig
3 - 0
VfL Bochum

Silva (69'), Nkunku (73', 78')
Angelino (58')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Tesche (80')

Preview: RB Leipzig vs. VfL Bochum - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between RB Leipzig and VfL Bochum, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

RB Leipzig will be hoping to bounce back from another Champions League disappointment in midweek when they return to Bundesliga action against VfL Bochum at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday.

The hosts will look to repeat their big win in league action last weekend, against their newly promoted visitors who have struggled to adapt to life in Germany's top flight.


Match preview

RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring their first goal on September 28, 2021© Reuters

After Christopher Nkunku continued his fine recent form with a goal inside the fifth minute in Tuesday's Champions League tie at home to Club Brugge, Leipzig will have expected to cruise to a comfortable win.

However, their Belgian opponents had other ideas and hit back with two goals before half time in a poor first half display from the hosts.

Despite introductions at half time, and dominating the play in the second half, Die Roten Bullen could not find a way through and fell to their second disappointing defeat from two in Europe this season.

Jesse Marsch and his side will have been expected to pick up from where they left off in league action last weekend, when Leipzig hammered Hertha Berlin 6-0 in a scintillating display.

Nkunku bagged himself a brace in that match, and Tuesday's goal took his record to seven goals and three assists in all competitions already this season, despite his side's relatively poor start to the campaign.

The title hopefuls find themselves sitting in 10th place after the opening six fixtures, in what is a disappointing start to the new manager's tenure in charge.

Marsch will be looking for his side to put the loss in midweek behind them and focus instead on the positives of the display against Hertha last weekend, to ensure an expected win on Saturday.

VfL Bochum coach Thomas Reis reacts on May 16, 2021© Reuters

Meanwhile, Bochum's return to the Bundesliga for the first time since the 2009-10 season has not started pleasantly as it stands currently, with the newly promoted side sitting in 17th place after their opening six fixtures.

There was not much expectation placed on the shoulders of manager Thomas Reis and his players, though, with the German boss leading the club back to the top flight against the odds last season.

A trip to Leipzig on Saturday will be one of those free swings during a tough season, which the manager will be hoping his side can enjoy as a reward for their efforts last campaign.

However, another of those enjoyable occasions was supposed to arrive at the Allianz Arena two matchdays ago, when Bochum were hit for seven by reigning champions Bayern Munich.

Reis will be looking for his players to repeat the efforts of last weekend instead, where Die Unabsteigbaren followed up the thrashing with a hard-fought goalless draw against Stuttgart, and could have nicked the three points had it not been for some missed opportunities.

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W

RB Leipzig form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L

VfL Bochum Bundesliga form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D



Team News

RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo pictured in June 2020© Reuters

Leipzig and Spain midfielder Dani Olmo remains on the sidelines due to a thigh injury ahead of Saturday's match, but his absence should not be too sorely missed should Nkunku continue his fine form.

Long-term absentees Marcel Halstenberg and Marcelo Saracchi also remain unavailable again for the hosts.

After missing out on the starting lineup in midweek, the likes of Angelino, Amadou Haidara and Josko Gvardiol are expected to return from the start against Bochum.

As for the visitors, they remain without important striker Simon Zoller due to a knee injury, along with defenders Cristian Gamboa and Maxim Leitsch.

As a result, Reis could decide to stick with the same lineup that earned a solid draw against Stuttgart last time out.

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Gvardiol; Mukiele, Haidara, Kampl, Angelino; Nkunku, Silva, Forsberg

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Riemann; Bockhorn, Bella-Kotchap, Masovic, Soares; Losilla, Rexhbecaj; Antwi-Adjei, Lowen, Holtmann; Polter


SM words green background

We say: RB Leipzig 4-0 VfL Bochum

We are fully expecting Leipzig to return to winning ways in this one, despite their setback in midweek. The quality difference between the two sides is vast, so a threat from Bochum is not to be expected and a comfortable home win should be played out.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a RB Leipzig win with a probability of 60.44%. A win for VfL Bochum had a probability of 19.83% and a draw had a probability of 19.7%.

The most likely scoreline for a RB Leipzig win was 2-1 with a probability of 9.63%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (7.91%) and 3-1 (7.18%). The likeliest VfL Bochum win was 1-2 (5.24%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (8.6%). The actual scoreline of 3-0 was predicted with a 5.9% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that RB Leipzig would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: RB Leipzig vs VfL Bochum

RB Leipzig
88.2%
Draw
9.8%
VfL Bochum
2.0%
51
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen26224066184870
2Bayern MunichBayern26193478314760
3Stuttgart26182660312956
4Borussia DortmundDortmund26148453322150
5RB Leipzig26154760322849
6Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt26101064235740
7Augsburg269894342135
8Hoffenheim2696114450-633
9Freiburg2696113648-1233
10Werder Bremen2686123541-630
11Heidenheim2678113544-929
12Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach26610104650-428
13Union BerlinUnion Berlin2684142542-1728
14Wolfsburg2667133144-1325
15VfL BochumVfL Bochum26510113054-2425
16Mainz 05Mainz26310132246-2419
17FC Koln2639142047-2718
18SV Darmstadt 98Darmstadt2627172665-3913


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