Greuther Fürth - VfL Bochum

Visitors to run away with all three points

TEAM NEWS

Mathis Bolly will be the only player not at Greuther Furth’s disposal due to injury while Julian Green has received his fifth yellow card and is suspended against Bochum.

Bochum coach Robin Dutt has no injury concerns to deal with and can count on a fully fit squad. The only absent players are Stefano Celozzi and Maxim Leitsch but there should be suitable replacements for both.

Greuther Furth

Suspended: Julian Green

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Mathis Bolly (muscle)

Bochum

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Stefano Celozzi (pulled muscle), Maxim Leitsch (adductor)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Greuther Furth were brought back down to earth with a bang last Friday as they lost the Bavarian derby 2-1 to Regensburg at Sporthof Ronhof. Having not lost since late September on home soil, Friday’s defeat was a real shock to the system for Damir Buric’s side. The Shamrocks have spent the majority of their season in the bottom half of the table and have won ten, drawn seven and lost 13 of their 30 league matches thus far. Furth are only four points above the automatic relegation places and they will have to fight for every point to avoid slipping back into the bottom three.

Over the past ten games, no side have picked up more points than Bochum. Robin Dutt’s men have gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed, winning six, drawing two and losing two of their last ten, and they are now sitting in sixth in the table, six points adrift of the promotion playoff place. Bochum have also been exceptional on the road of late, winning their last three away league games in a row. They are coming off an important 3-2 home win against rock-bottom Kaiserslautern.

Greuther Furth may be fighting for their lives, but this will no doubt be another stern test for the Shamrocks. Although Greuther Furth are very strong at home I fancy in-form Bochum to seal another win under Dutt.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN 

Greuther Furth have hosted Bochum nine times at Sportpark Ronhof and seven from those matches have finished with even goals. With that in mind, back even goals to be scored on Friday night again.

HEAD TO HEAD

Nine of the last 19 league meetings between Greuther Furth and Bochum have ended level, with the most recent one finishing 1-1 last November. Greuther Furth have won six while Bochum have managed four victories in this head-to-head.