Hamburger SV - VfL Bochum

Hamburg to take three points on home soil

TEAM NEWS

Christian Titz’s Hamburg are at full strength ahead of this clash at Volkspark Stadium. Only the long-term injured Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio and Kyriakos Papadopoulos are absent.

Bochum’s long-term injury absentees Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic, Thomas Eisfeld and Florian Kraft are all expected to miss out again while Anthony Losilla is sidelined with suspension after his sending-off against Heidenheim.

Hamburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio (all knee)

Bochum

Suspended: Anthony Losilla 

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic, Thomas Eisfeld (all knee); Florian Kraft (finger)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Having gone three league games without a win (two draws, one loss), Hamburg claimed a very important 2-1 win at Bollenfalltor against Darmstadt before the international break. Christian Titz's men have won only two of their last five in the league, but they remain in a strong position in the table, sitting in third place on 17 points, two below Cologne. Hamburg had a lot of problems on home soil this term where they have only won two, drawn one and lost two, and have had more success on the road where ten of their points have been secured. 

Bochum have climbed back up the table and are now in seventh after beating Bielefeld 1-0 at home last time out. However, they have accumulated only four points from their last four league fixtures since thumping Ingolstadt 6-0 at Vonovia Stadium. Away from home, Bochum are only average, taking only five points from 12 on offer and scoring eight goals. Sitting two points behind third placed Hamburg, a positive result against these opponents could move them several places up the table.

I fancy Hamburg to win this important league game and take a step toward the top of the league standings.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – ODD

Hamburg's last three league wins have come by a one-goal margin while all of their five have had odd total goals. In truth, a single goal could be enough to settle this one between these two overall evenly matched rivals. My money is going on odd total goals at Volkspark Stadium.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two sides have not met in Germany's second tier. Their last competitive encounter took place in the top flight in 2009-10, with Hamburg claiming a 2-1 victory on the road but losing 1-0 at home.