An ideal end to the year with victories over Bayern Munich (2:1) and Eintracht Frankfurt (3:1) has secured Mainz a spot in the top five of the championship. They have no intention of slowing down in January—a match against struggling VfL Bochum should present an opportunity to add more points to their tally.
Mainz 05
A victory over Borussia Dortmund (3:1) ahead of the November international break showcased Mainz's strength, as they secured five wins in their last six matches of 2024. In Frankfurt, they overcame an early sending-off for Nadiem Amiri, with Paul Nebel scoring twice. Over these six rounds, Mainz recorded 13.37 xG and netted 16 goals, placing second in the Bundesliga only behind Bayer Leverkusen in both metrics.
Bochum
Bochum secured their first win of the season only in the second half of December, defeating struggling Heidenheim (2:0). Despite this win, the team from the Ruhr region remain the Bundesliga's main underdog, trailing the safety zone by eight points. They have posted the highest xGA in the league (36.17), and winter transfers are unlikely to significantly improve their performance. Under Dieter Hecking, Bochum operate with a five-defender formation, yet the number of chances they concede remains high.
Mainz 05 vs Bochum Prediction
Since August 2022, Mainz have defeated Bochum in three out of four encounters, scoring 2 or more goals each time. Mainz's fiery form is expected to see the visitors leave with goals conceded.
