MSV Duisburg - VfL Bochum

This is an important match above all for the home team, they are at the bottom with only 11 Points and they have to look for a win today if they want to have any chance to avoid relegation after winter break. With a lose and a win from the teams above them the gap open to 8 Points and this is almost impossible to turn this in their favor in 15 games. On the other side Bochum need to win as well to stay in tough with the top because with a lose they will be 6 Points behind 3rd Place and this after such a good start to begin of the Season.

After they fired Lettieri they gave Gruev their trust, he is an unknown Coach for most of the experts but he has showed some good work. The first three matches they were unbeaten under him (1-2-0) but failed in both last games in Leipzig where they looked long as the logical winner but Leipzig had an incredible finish with 3 goals. Last weekend in Kaiserslautern they hold long time a goalless draw but must capitulate in second half. Nevertheless the team is doing a much better job now and they are much more compact, also their offensive actions are also more efficient.
Therefore Coach Gruev plans to start with the same lineup as in the recent matches where they was not without any chance. The only change can be in central back where veteran Bajic returns. Also he mentioned in an interview that he wants to see the fighting spirit from the game against Sandhausen and the creative play from Leipzig. If they are able to find the mix here they are having a real good chance to get the win.

After some bad weeks Bochum shot Paderborn out of their stadium with 4-0 and got some hope back that the team have not lost their strength. Also in Cup they were able to win in Munich 2-0 but against such a harmless opponent every team had won. But win is a win but they need some help from the referee because the second goal was clear hand but it was counted. The salary for the win against 1860 was a big game in the next Cup Round where they face Bayern Munich at home. But before they have to talk and thing about the big game 2016 they have to do the work in league and this is in Duisburg. Coach Verbeek is very pleased that his team manage this match very well.
But he said also that it is not so easy because this is the third match in one week and they had to travel two times as well. Of course it is not far to Duisburg and this can be called a derby but some of the players are really tired after a long Season. Additional they have some doubts in their squad with Perthel and Fabian and also Terodde. Third one is sure out and it is also unsafe if he plays next year for Bochum as he has some offers from 1.Bundesliga.

The bottom team have to be as cool as they can and try to win this one. At home they are much better and they have shown some good games there already. In 9 home matches they were beaten only from Kaiserslautern, FSV Frankfurt and Braunschweig. All the other 6 matches they got Points and it is not far that this happen against weak traveller Bochum again. Above all after this big negative run away from home without a win since 3 matches. Also the tiredness from some player can be there because we have mentioned above that this is their 3 match in one week and at the end the batteries are empty. Therefore MSV can maybe take advantage from it too.

PICK: MSV Duisburg AHC +0,25 @ 2,02 (3 Units / Flat Stake)