Following a crushing 1-3 defeat at home to Liverpool on Tuesday, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will face VfL Bochum in their 10th match of the 2024/25 season at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Saturday. This match comes on the heels of a humiliating 4-0 loss to Liverpool in their most recent Champions League encounter, which left them with just 16 points in the English top-flight standings, occupying fourth place. On the other hand, Bochum is struggling at the opposite end of the table, sitting at the bottom with a mere one point from their first nine league games.
Leverkusen’s midweek disaster against Liverpool adds to their woes following an even worse loss in their previous Bundesliga fixture. On November 2, they suffered a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt. Remarkably, the game was practically decided after just 32 minutes, with Leverkusen trailing 5-0 before halftime. The defeat was particularly concerning given that interim manager Markus Feldhoff, who had stepped in for the dismissed previous coach, was leading the team at that point. The arrival of Dieter Hecking, appointed as the permanent manager on November 4 until the end of the season, offers fans a sense of hope, as they hope that he can steer the club toward a more positive direction quickly.
However, the task ahead for Hecking is a daunting one. Bochum enters Saturday’s game on the back of an abysmal run of form, having lost 10 of their 11 Bundesliga games to date, with no victories to their name. Their defensive frailties have been exposed time and again, as they have conceded a staggering 22 goals in their last five league fixtures. While their home form is slightly better, securing six points from their last ten top-flight encounters, they have still suffered four losses in their last five Bundesliga games at Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
Leverkusen’s struggles have been compounded by their inability to finish games strongly. Against Liverpool, they initially kept the Reds at bay for over an hour, but a late surge saw Jurgen Klopp’s men score four goals in the final 30 minutes to seal a commanding victory. The defeat left Leverkusen in 14th place in the Champions League standings, which was a far cry from the high expectations they had at the start of the season. The team’s lack of attacking efficiency was evident in the match, as Leverkusen generated less than one expected goal (xG) in the entire game, nearly four times fewer than Liverpool's output.
Despite these setbacks, Xabi Alonso, the Leverkusen head coach, remained upbeat about his team’s performance in the Champions League. He praised their efforts in keeping Liverpool under control for a significant portion of the match, considering it their most comprehensive performance of the season so far. Alonso highlighted his players' ability to create opportunities in the final third, as well as their tireless attacking play. While the results haven't always gone their way, Leverkusen’s attacking philosophy under Alonso is clear, even if it hasn't yet been fully realized in terms of consistent results.
Leverkusen’s struggles this season have been notable when compared to their stellar 2023/24 campaign. In that season, they only dropped points in six league games, finishing the season as one of the most consistent teams in the Bundesliga. However, after just nine games in the 2024/25 season, they have already dropped five points, losing one match and drawing four. This reflects a worrying trend, as the team is finding it difficult to replicate the form that propelled them to the top of the league last season. They will need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid falling further behind in the race for the Bundesliga title.
While Leverkusen’s attack has remained potent, having scored 20 goals so far this season, their defense has been a point of concern. Their defensive record is ranked 10th in the league, having conceded 15 goals in their opening nine matches. Their goal-scoring prowess has often been overshadowed by defensive vulnerabilities, and this inconsistency has been a key factor in their underwhelming start to the season.
The upcoming clash with Bochum will be crucial for both teams. For Leverkusen, it represents an opportunity to bounce back from their recent setbacks and get their season back on track. For Bochum, it is a chance to secure a much-needed victory and begin their fight for survival in the Bundesliga. Both teams are under pressure, with Leverkusen looking to rebuild their confidence under the guidance of their new manager, while Bochum is fighting to avoid relegation.
Leverkusen’s squad will be without left-back Bernardo for the time being, as he is expected to return to action only in late November. In defense, it is anticipated that Felix Passlack, Jakov Medic, Ivan Ordets, and Maximilian Wittek will be tasked with holding the fort at the back. The absence of Bernardo adds to Leverkusen's challenges, but the defensive unit will need to step up to ensure that they can cope with Bochum's attacking threats.
At the goalkeeper position, there is little doubt that Patrick Drewes will start in goal for Leverkusen, as Manuel Riemann remains suspended internally due to unresolved issues concerning his playing time at the end of the previous season. This suspension has further complicated matters for Leverkusen, as they will be without their first-choice goalkeeper for this match.
Leverkusen's form on the road has been more promising in recent months. Since their humiliating 3-0 loss to Bochum in May 2023, Leverkusen had managed to go undefeated away from home until their defeat to Liverpool. This record had provided them with some hope that they could carry a solid away form into the new season. However, their loss to Liverpool at Anfield has raised questions about their ability to perform against top-tier opposition on the road. The upcoming match against Bochum will be an important test of their resolve as they seek to restore their confidence away from home.
For Hecking, the task ahead is clear. He must work quickly to instill his tactical philosophy into the team while addressing the defensive frailties that have plagued Leverkusen so far this season. Given the attacking quality at his disposal, Hecking’s primary focus will likely be on improving the defensive solidity and ensuring that the team can maintain a strong structure throughout matches. If Leverkusen can tighten up at the back and start converting their attacking opportunities into goals, they should be able to mount a serious challenge in the Bundesliga this season.
The pressure is mounting on both teams, and Saturday’s clash will be an important barometer of their respective fortunes. While Leverkusen has the quality to overcome Bochum, the team must show resilience and avoid repeating the mistakes that have led to their recent defeats. Bochum, meanwhile, will be hoping to capitalize on Leverkusen’s struggles and take advantage of their vulnerable defense to secure a crucial win. Fans of both clubs will be eagerly anticipating the outcome of this key fixture in the Bundesliga season
