Bayer Leverkusen vs VfL Bochum

VfL Bochum have lost each of their last four Bundesliga away games against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, failing to score in each of the last three. This is VfL’s longest ongoing losing streak away to any current top-flight team.

With 56 points from 26 games, this is Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s second-best Bundesliga campaign (70 points last season). VfL Bochum, on the other hand, are enduring their second-worst top-flight season with 20 points and a goal difference of -25 (20 points, -28 GD in 2000/01). The Werkself are six points adrift of first place – since three points for a win was introduced, only Stuttgart in 2006/07 (7 points behind after MD26) have ever overturned such a deficit this late on in a Bundesliga season.

VfL Bochum are unbeaten in their last three Bundesliga away games (W1, D2), their joint-longest undefeated streak since returning to the top flight in 2021 (also 3 games in April/March 2023). VfL have also now won two consecutive Bundesliga away matches for the first time during this period. Bayer 04 Leverkusen lost their last league match at home, and both of their Bundesliga defeats since the start of last season have come at the BayArena.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have trailed in just six Bundesliga games this season, a league low. Despite that, they have picked up the most wins (4) and claimed the most points (12) from losing positions. Their winner at Stuttgart on matchday 26 was their 23rd competitive goal in the 90th minute or later since the start of last season – a best for all Bundesliga sides.

VfL Bochum average the fewest passes per possession sequence in the Bundesliga this season (2.6), but move the ball towards the opposition’s goal more directly than any other side (2.2 m/s) and also play the highest proportion of long passes (18%). Bayer 04 Leverkusen play the second-most passes per sequence (4.6; FCB: 5.5) and rank 17th in terms of both direct speed (1.6 m/s) and the proportion of long passes (8%; FCB: 1.5 m/s, 6%).