On Friday night, Bochum hosts Arminia Bielefeld at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion in what is a vital game for the visitor's chances of escaping the Bundesliga relegation zone.
The home team has enjoyed a solid campaign back among the German elite and has already achieved their pre-season aim of beating the drop back down to the second tier.
Their recent league form has not been great, but a thrilling 4-3 win at Dortmund last time out ended a three-game winless run in the Bundesliga for the home team. The game also saw Bochum end a three-game drought in front of goal in the German top-flight.
Thomas Reis’ team have been in poor form on home soil of late, as they have won just one of their last five league matches on home soil. A big factor in that poor recent home record has been a lack of goals, as Bochum has failed to score in four of their previous five league games on home soil.
We have reached a crunch time of the season when it comes to the Bundesliga relegation battle and currently Arminia Bielefeld will be plying their trade in the Bundesliga.2 next season.
A disastrous nine-game winless streak, including seven defeats, mean that Bielefeld is in the last automatic relegation spot, while they are also two points behind 16th place Stuttgart, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.
A 1-1 home draw with Hertha Berlin last time out ended a three-game losing run for the visitors in the Bundesliga. However, the draw also left Arminia Bielefeld six points adrift of Hertha, who occupy 15th place.
This is a massive game for the visitors. Forebet predicts that Bochum will record a victory in a high-scoring encounter, which could relegate Arminia Bielefeld to the German second tier.