Fortuna Dusseldorf have one foot back in the Bundesliga following an excellent 3-0 victory at Bochum in the first leg of their playoff tie.
The visitors have it all to do if they are going to turn this tie around and secure their Bundesliga status but it's hard to see Monday's hosts blowing a three-goal lead.
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Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Bochum predictions: Another win on the cards for Dusseldorf?
The hosts already have an advantage after the first leg, but things can easily turn around in football. We don't see Fortuna allowing that to happen and instead expect another win.
Key Stats
- Fortuna Dusseldorf hammered Bochum 3-0 in the first leg last week and head into Monday's decider on the back of unbeaten in their last six matches, picking up four wins and two draws. Visiting Bochum have now lost four of their last six matches and the odds are against them following the manner of their defeat against Fortuna last time out.
- Monday's hosts have scored exactly three goals in three of their last four fixtures but have only kept two clean sheets in their last six attempts which is why we're going with a 3-1 final scoreline in favour of Fortuna Dusseldorf.
- Christos Tzolis top scores for Fortuna Dusseldorf this season with 24 goals in all competitions and the 22-year-old heads into Monday's match on the back of seven goals in his last nine appearances.
Pre-game odds and win probability: The 2. Bundesliga side are the favourite
- HOME: 23/18 (2.28) – 43.9%
- DRAW: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.6%
- AWAY: 11/5 (3.20) – 31.3%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Fortuna Dusseldorf the expected winners ahead of kick-off with a probability of 43.9%, and following that first-leg display, we can see why the bookmakers are backing a win for the hosts.
An own goal from Philipp Hofmann set Fortuna Dusseldorf on their way to a resounding 3-0 first-leg victory against Bochum last week, leaving the 2. Bundesliga side on the cusp of a return to Germany's top flight.
For more football betting tips on the game, check out the Under/Over 2.5 Goals market. You can back under 2.5 goals to be scored in this game at 11/10 (2.10) which has a probability of 47.6%, while a bet on over 2.5 goals is priced at 11/14 (1.79) with a probability of 56%.
Last five H2Hs: Fortuna in front
Germany Bundesliga Play-Offs 23/05/24
Bochum
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Europe Friendlies 21/07/23
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Bochum
Europe Friendlies 27/01/22
Bochum
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Germany Bundesliga II 22/03/21
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Bochum
Germany Bundesliga II 30/11/20
Bochum
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Fortuna Dusseldorf have picked up three wins and two defeats from their last five competitive and non-competitive meetings with Bochum.
Team news and form guide
Fortuna Dusseldorf: Won four of last six
Jamil Siebert missed out on the first leg and isn't expected to be back from injury until sometime next month, so we are expecting Daniel Thioune to go with the same starting lineup on Monday.
Predicted lineup: Kastenmeier (GK), Zimmermann, de Wijs, Oberdorf, Klaus, Sobottka, Tanaka, Engelhardt, Vermeij, Iyoha & Tzolis
Germany Bundesliga II 10/05/25
W
Schalke
0
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2
Germany Bundesliga II 03/05/25
D
Eintracht Braunschweig
2
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2
Germany Bundesliga II 26/04/25
D
Nurnberg
3
Fortuna Dusseldorf
3
Germany Bundesliga II 19/04/25
D
Elversberg
1
Fortuna Dusseldorf
1
Germany Bundesliga II 13/04/25
W
Paderborn
1
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2
Bochum: Lost four of last six
The visitors look set to be without the likes of Philipp Forster, Danilo Soares, Mohammed Tolba and Michael Esser for their must-win game against Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Predicted lineup: Luthe (GK), Ordets, Wittek, Bernardo, Passlack, Schlotterbeck, Stöger, Bero, Osterhage, Hofmann & Asano
Germany Bundesliga I 10/05/25
L
Mainz
4
Bochum
1
Germany Bundesliga I 02/05/25
D
Heidenheim
0
Bochum
0
Germany Bundesliga I 27/04/25
D
Union Berlin
1
Bochum
1
Germany Bundesliga I 19/04/25
L
Werder Bremen
1
Bochum
0
Germany Bundesliga I 12/04/25
L
Augsburg
2
Bochum
1
Player to watch – Christos Tzolis
Christos Tzolis has had his best season since turning professional and his excellent goalscoring form has taken Fortuna Dusseldorf to the brink of a return to the Bundesliga.
Tzolis failed to impress at Norwich but has found a new home in Germany where he has scored 22 times in 30 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga.
Fortuna's Greek striker has been deadly in front of goal
The young Greek forward might not have scored in the 3-0 win against Bochum last week but he did claim an assist. We're backing Tzolis to score in the second leg though, helping to guide Dusseldorf back to the Bundesliga.