Bochum vs St. Pauli

VfL Bochum, currently languishing at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, will host St. Pauli at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Wednesday in the 17th round of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. The encounter holds particular significance for Bochum, as they seek to secure consecutive home victories in the league for the first time since December 2023. This will be the first meeting between these two teams in the top-flight league since 1997, adding an element of anticipation to this fixture. Bochum, despite their current struggles, are aiming to bounce back from a disappointing loss and challenge St. Pauli for vital points in their battle against relegation.

VfL Bochum’s fortunes heading into the match are mixed. The club managed to close 2024 with a hard-fought win over Heidenheim, but their momentum was halted in the 16th round when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at Mainz 05. This loss meant Bochum were unable to cut the eight-point gap between themselves and Hoffenheim, who sit in 15th place and out of the relegation zone. The defeat at Mainz marked another setback for Dieter Hecking's side, who have had a season full of challenges. Despite these setbacks, Bochum's head coach will be eager to get his team back on track, especially as they face an opponent in St. Pauli, who themselves have had mixed performances in recent weeks, winning just one of their last four league matches.

Looking at the broader picture, Bochum’s hopes of avoiding relegation have been severely impacted by their poor performances throughout the first half of the season. With only one win in normal time—along with a win granted retroactively by the DFB Sports Court following their 1-1 draw at Union Berlin, where goalkeeper Patrick Drewes was struck by a lighter thrown from the crowd—Bochum are struggling. Their inability to win matches consistently has left them deep in the relegation zone, and with the Bundesliga being as competitive as it is, the club will need to find a way to secure points regularly to avoid a battle for survival.

A potential source of optimism for Bochum comes in the form of their recent history against St. Pauli. While the encounters between these two sides have not occurred in the Bundesliga in recent seasons, Bochum has managed to remain unbeaten in their last five meetings against St. Pauli. This positive record, even if it is in lower divisions, could help boost morale for a Bochum side that has seen little success this season. With a victory on Wednesday, Bochum would not only extend their unbeaten run against St. Pauli to six matches, but they would also secure back-to-back Bundesliga home wins for the first time since December 2023. In those victories, they triumphed over Wolfsburg (3-1) and Union Berlin (3-0), showing they can perform in front of their home supporters.

However, Bochum's struggles at home, particularly against promoted clubs, should serve as a cautionary tale for the side as they approach this game. Their record of just one victory from 19 home matches against newly-promoted teams (with nine draws and nine losses) highlights the difficulties they face when trying to compete against these sides. In contrast, St. Pauli, who won the 2023-24 2. Bundesliga title, will be looking to use their experience from last season to claim another important three points on the road. St. Pauli’s own goalscoring record is similarly underwhelming, with the team having scored just 12 goals so far this season—fewer than Bochum's 14. Despite this, St. Pauli's positive end to 2024, which included a victory over Stuttgart, provides some optimism as they head into the new year.

St. Pauli’s first match of 2025 ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, who are currently sitting in third place. This result marked their third loss in four matches, though they had accumulated six points in their previous fixtures, matching Bochum's tally. Despite the loss, St. Pauli can take solace in their recent away form, as they have been much stronger on the road compared to their home performances. The club has accumulated nine of their 14 points away from home this season, which accounts for 64% of their total points. This away form will be crucial as they aim to secure consecutive victories on the road in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2010, when they beat Borussia Monchengladbach (2-1) and Hannover (1-0). 

Despite traveling to a ground where they last won in 2018, St. Pauli will draw encouragement from their strong record in midweek Bundesliga fixtures. The club has managed to claim maximum points in four consecutive Bundesliga matches played on Wednesdays, a statistical quirk that could help lift their spirits ahead of this match. Additionally, Bochum’s record of losing six consecutive top-flight fixtures played on Wednesdays could serve as a motivating factor for the visiting team. This combination of factors gives St. Pauli a sense of confidence heading into the game, and they will be hopeful of securing another valuable win away from home.

Bochum’s problems this season are multifaceted, but one of the most pressing issues has been their inability to convert their home games into positive results. While they have shown flashes of potential, particularly during their two impressive home wins in December, they have struggled to find consistency. The team’s lack of scoring prowess, coupled with defensive vulnerabilities, has contributed to their precarious position at the bottom of the table. Head coach Dieter Hecking will need to find a way to galvanize his team for the remainder of the season, and this match against St. Pauli represents an important opportunity to start that process.

St. Pauli, on the other hand, will enter the match with a slightly more optimistic outlook, especially given their recent road performances and their historical advantage in midweek Bundesliga fixtures. While they have had their own struggles this season, particularly in front of their home supporters, their away form offers a glimmer of hope. For a club that has just returned to the top flight, securing points away from home is a crucial component of their survival strategy. The prospect of defeating Bochum, who are struggling both in form and in terms of their position in the table, presents St. Pauli with a chance to climb further up the standings.

The clash between these two sides, separated by just four points in the table, will likely have significant implications for the relegation battle. While Bochum’s focus will be on securing a vital win to close the gap to the relegation playoff position, St. Pauli will be looking to capitalize on their strong away form and build some momentum to ensure they do not become embroiled in the relegation scrap themselves. With both teams facing their own set of challenges, this match promises to be a tense and crucial encounter for both sides.

As Bochum looks to salvage their season, St. Pauli will be keen to avoid becoming another casualty of the relegation fight. Both teams have shown glimpses of potential but have struggled with consistency. The result of this fixture could be pivotal in shaping the remainder of both teams’ seasons as they navigate the challenges of the Bundesliga and fight for survival in Germany's top division.