Bochum vs. Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Can the visitors end losing league run? | OneFootball

Bochum

Bochum are currently sitting in the relegation playoff spot after winning four, drawing six and losing 15 of their 25 league matches. Die Unabsteigbaren have proven to be a tough team in recent weeks, having lost just one of their last five matches. They played out away draws against Holstein Kiel and Wolfsburg, either side of a 2-0 home win over Borussia Dortmund, before they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Hoffenheim.

However, they bounced back with a stunning 3-2 victory over leaders Bayern Munich in last Saturday’s clash at the Allianz Arena. A Raphaël Guerreiro brace gave Bayern a two-goal lead, before Jakov Medić halved the deficit just past the half-hour mark. Bochum were then given a boost when Joao Palhinha was shown a straight red card in the 41st minute. Dieter Hecking’s side ultimately made full use of the numerical advantage, with Ibrahima Sissoko and Matúš Bero finding the net to clinch a 3-2 victory.

Bochum will start Sunday’s clash with a three-point cushion to the bottom two, while they are five points adrift of St. Pauli in 15th position. They may fancy their chances of adding to their 20-point tally, having avoided defeat in their last three home games against Frankfurt (W2, D1).

Team News

Bernardo will serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the Bundesliga season last weekend.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt have experienced a run of three consecutive league defeats since recording a 3-1 victory over Holstein Kiel on February 16. They suffered heavy defeats against Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen, before they gave up a narrow lead to lose 2-1 in last Sunday’s home clash against Union Berlin.

Die Adler did at least enjoy success in Thursday’s Europa League outing against Ajax, easing to a 4-1 victory to back up their 2-1 win from the away leg. After successfully negotiating the last-16 tie, Frankfurt can now look forward to a quarter-final meeting with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

They will now turn their focus back to their domestic campaign, with Frankfurt sitting in fourth place after collecting 42 points from 25 matches. Sunday’s visitors have won just one of their last five Bundesliga road trips (D2, L2), with their only victory in that period taking place in January’s clash with St. Pauli. Die Adler will at least take confidence from the fact they recorded a dominant 7-2 victory in November’s reverse fixture against Bochum.

Team News

Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmöller is unable to call upon the injured quartet of Kevin Trapp, Timothy Chandler, Igor Matanović and Arthur Theate.