Football Bet of the Day for Friday: Expert-backed Bundesliga prediction featuring Leverkusen and Bochum. Can Schick fire again? Leverkusen are pushing hard to keep Bayern in sight, and Friday’s fixture gives them the ideal opportunity.
Read on to view the best bet of the day for Thursday!
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Bayer Leverkusen vs VfL Bochum
Wolfgang Shotten; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
AC Milan to Win and Under 2.5 Goals
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4/1 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Milan’s improved form and solid defence make them favourites against a goal-shy Bologna side, whose recent away struggles and cup distractions could prove costly.
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Rationale:
Key Stats:
- Leverkusen have won 10 of their last 11 Bundesliga home games, despite recent wobbles.
- Bochum have conceded in 20 straight Bundesliga away fixtures.
- Schick has scored in 3 of his last 4 appearances when starting at home.
Rationale
Bayer Leverkusen remain firmly in the Bundesliga title picture, and Friday’s meeting with VfL Bochum gives them another shot at closing the gap on Bayern Munich. Despite a turbulent run of results in all competitions—three defeats in their last four—Xabi Alonso’s men remain potent, particularly when Patrik Schick leads the line. The Czech striker was pivotal in their most recent outing, sealing a dramatic late victory over Stuttgart with a stoppage-time goal that capped a thrilling comeback. That display underlined Schick’s knack for making a difference when it matters, even amid injuries to key attackers like Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella.
Bochum, who currently hover just above the relegation zone, continue to fight for survival, but their defensive record is shaky—especially on the road. Although they’ve pulled off shock wins over Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund this season, their inconsistency away from home (17 defeats in their last 20 Bundesliga away matches) is a serious concern. They’ve also shipped plenty of goals, and while their attack showed some spark in the loss to Frankfurt, their vulnerability at the back was again exposed.
Given Bochum’s tendency to concede and Leverkusen’s urgency to stay in the title hunt, the hosts should dominate proceedings. Injuries have left them lighter in attack, but Schick has stepped up at precisely the right time. With Alonso relying heavily on the striker in the absence of other key forwards, Schick is likely to lead the line once more and is expected to find himself in prime goalscoring positions. Against a shaky Bochum defence, that spells opportunity.
Schick’s confidence will be high after scoring the winner against Stuttgart, and with Leverkusen chasing a win to remain on Bayern’s heels, the forward should thrive in a high-pressure environment. Given his importance to Alonso’s depleted front line, and the nature of Bochum’s defending away from home, backing him to score again offers strong value.
Best bet – Patrik Schick to score anytime
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