VfL Bochum - MSV Duisburg

Bochum to make it back-to-back wins

TEAM NEWS

Bochum could sign Simon Zoller from league rival Cologne while Timo Perthel left the club during the break. They are still dealing with long-term absentees Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic, Maxim Leitsch and Baris Ekincier while Tim Hoogland is not available with suspension, too.

Duisburg transfer coup during the break was to sign Havard Nielsen from Fortuna Dusseldorf. However, they can not count on Christian Gartner and Sebastian Neumann who will be out for the remainder of the year. Additional will miss John Verhoek and Stanislav Iljutcenko the match against Bochum due to suspension.

Bochum

Suspended: Tim Hoogland

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic (both knee), Maxim Leitsch (pubis), Baris Ekincier (unspecified)

Duisburg

Suspended: John Verhoek, Stanislav Iljutcenko

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christian Gartner, Sebastian Neumann (both knee); 

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

After back-to-back defeats to St. Pauli 3-1 and Union Berlin 2-0, Bochum recorded a precious 3-2 away win over giant Cologne before the break. Robin Dutt’s side have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, taking just one win from their previous four league games. However, on home soil they are very strong this campaign, winning five, drawing one and losing three of their nine league fixtures. 

Since taking over from Ilja Gruev, who was fired at the end of September, Torsten Lieberknecht has made a good start to his managerial career at Duisburg but received a setback with four defeats in a row before the winter-break. With the last one finished 3-1 against Duisburg, he has won four, drawn two and lost five with his new team. The Zebras kicked off their season very awful, but the MSV still have the chance to avoid the worst case despite sitting on 16^thplace with only 13 points but even with 15^thplaced Sandhausen.

Bochum is very strong on home ground and should see off struggling Duisburg here. My money is going on a home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: HiLOW - LOW

Bochum have scored just 15 home goals this term while Duisburg have netted only 10 times away form home, which is the fourth least in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga. The last four meetings between the pair have been low-scoring affairs too – I fancy this to be again.

HEAD TO HEAD

The last two league meetings between the pair have been won by Bochum. Meanwhile, Duisburg have not won at Vonovia Stadium in league action since a top-flight meeting back in May 1999.