VfL Bochum - FC St. Pauli

Season opener between two traditional clubs

TEAM NEWS

17 days before the start of the season, Bochum fired Gertjan Verbeek and decided to place their trust in a coach with no 2.Bundesliga experience instead. With Ismail Atalan from 3.Bundesliga outfit Sportfreunde Lotte on the sidelines, they are aiming big this season. The squad was given fresh blood, above all in attack with striker Lukas Hinterseer (Ingolstadt), striker Dimitrios Diamantakos (Karlsruher SC) and midfielder Robbie Kruse (former Leverkusen player). Defender Danilo Soares (Hoffenheim) is likely to play an important role this season too.

St. Pauli will rely on almost the same squad as last season. They have only lost defender Soren Gonther to Dresden while signing forward Sami Allagui (Hertha Berlin), midfielder Mats Moller Daehli (Freiburg), defender Clemens Schoppenhauer (Wurzburg) and defender Luca-Milan Zander (Werder Bremen).

Bochum

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Lukas Hinterseer (knee)

Injured/unavailable: Timo Perthel, Nico Rieble, Vitaly Janelt (all knee)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ryo Miyaichi (knee), Philipp Ziereis (muscle)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Bochum will count on their strong defensive line from last season and they are very hard to beat, especially at home, having suffered just two defeats in 17 games in front of their own fans last season. The club will hope that their new signings in attack will push them to new heights and that their new and young coach Ismail Atalan has what it takes to push this team to the maximum.

St. Pauli are a well-balanced team and with not too many new players in the starting line-up they have maybe some advantage at the beginning of the season. Sami Allagui is the only new player, who is expected to feature here, but he will bring a lot of class to St. Pauli’s style of play and this could act as a boost for the team.

I think Bochum will have what it takes right from the start. There is a great atmosphere in and around the club and their good home record speaks for itself while they will aim to extend this run. St. Pauli are nothing special away from home and I expect the hosts to edge it.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH (OVER 2.5 GOALS)

Most of the last 13 competitive meetings at Bochum have seen a lot of goals, with eight of them producing three or more. Although it is the opener, I think this trend will continue and I predict over 2.5 goals here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Bochum’s all-time home record against St. Pauli consists of five wins, six draws and two defeats, with the team scoring 30 and conceding 15 goals.