VfL Bochum - Erzgebirge Aue

Hosts to grab back-to-back home wins

TEAM NEWS

Bochum’s long-term injury absentees Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic, Silvere Ganvoula, Sebastian Maier, Maxim Leitsch and ThomasEisfeld are all expected to miss out again, but Stefano Celozzi is set to return to training next week.

Goalkeepers Robert Jendrusch and Martin Mannel are the only injuryabsentees for Aue.

Bochum

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic, Thomas Eisfeld (all knee); Sebastian Maier (groin), Silvere Ganvoula (stomach), Stefano Celozzi (pulled muscle), Maxim Leitsch (pubis)

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Robert Jendrusch (meniscus), Martin Mannel (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Bochum are slowly but surely hitting their stride, having lost just one of their last six league matches, winning two and drawing three in the process. Robin Dutt’s troops returned to winning ways against Darmstadt before the international break, with Tom Weilandt scoring the winning goal after an excellent solo to give his side a 1-0 victory at Vonovia Stadium. Bochum are now fifth and are sitting only three points behind third placed Union Berlin.

Aue were in decent shape before crashing to two successive defeats before the international break. After losing 1-0 to Heidenheim away from home, the Viola were then thumped 3-1 by leaders Hamburg two weeks ago. As a result Aue are still languishing in the bottom half of the league table with 14 points. They have won only once on the road, drawing once and losing five times, with no other team registering more away defeats. In fact, only rock-bottom outfit Ingolstadt have secured fewer points on their travels this season. 

Bochum have been in good shape of late while Aue fell to two defeats before the international break and have been poor travellers. My money is going on a home victory here.

SECOND PREDICTION: CORRECT SCORE – 1-0

Bochum have kept clean sheets in all of their four home wins in the league, with three of those ending 1-0. Back another 1-0 home triumph here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Aue have won none of their last seven league meetings, losing four and drawing three.