RB Leipzig vs VfL Bochum

RB Leipzig have won nine of their 11 competitive meetings with VfL Bochum in professional football (D1, L1), while they only have a higher win percentage against Hertha BSC (86%, 12/14) than against VfL (82%, min. 10 competitive games). Additionally, of the teams RB have played at least 10 times in all competitions, they have conceded fewer goals against Bochum than versus any other side (4).

VfL Bochum required a penalty shootout to beat the drop in last season’s relegation play-off against Fortuna Düsseldorf (3-0 home loss, 3-0 away win). Of the previous 19 teams to avoid relegation in the Bundesliga play-off, only three have gone down the following season, although though two of these three instances are within the last three years (Hertha BSC in 2022/23 and Werder Bremen in 2020/21).

VfL Bochum are winless on the opening matchday in each of their last nine Bundesliga seasons (D3, L6), an on-going negative club record, having never previously gone more than three consecutive top-flight campaigns without a win on matchday 1. The last time they started a Bundesliga season with a win was in 2002/03 (3-1 at Nürnberg).

RB Leipzig have lost four of their eight games at the start of a Bundesliga season, and are winless in their last three matchday 1 fixtures (D1, L2). The last time they kicked off a campaign with a win was in 2020/21 (3-1 over Mainz 05), incidentally the only other time they have played at home on matchday 1.

RB Leipzig lost just one of their final 15 Bundesliga games in 2023/24 (2-1 at Bayern on MD23). They are unbeaten in 11 top-flight games since that defeat (W7, D4), while only Bayer 04 Leverkusen are currently on a longer run (34 games). The first match of RBL’s ongoing undefeated streak was a 4-1 win at VfL Bochum.