Stuttgart vs Bochum Predictions

Stuttgart will be looking for a third league success of the season when they welcome Bochum to Mercedes-Benz Arena on Monday night. In contrast, Bochum will be hoping to claim maximum points for the first time since the new campaign began.

Without setting the league alight, Stuttgart, whose only goal this season is to return to the Bundesliga, have done well over the first four match-days. Monday’s hosts are unbeaten having won two and drawn two. They’ve notched at least twice in three of their four matches, which suggests that they’ve had little problem coming up with the goods offensively, while they’ve generally been creating a good amount, as an average of 1.95 expected goals for suggests.

Defensively, although they’ve shipped four in four, Stuttgart have looked reasonably tidy. An average of 0.89 expected goals against tells us that Tim Walter’s men have done a good job of restricting opponents, which is always positive.

Like Stuttgart, Bochum have done well in the final third over the first few weeks of the campaign. Monday’s visitors have scored in three out of four, notching a total of seven goals. They’ve twice scored three, which suggests that they’ve got the firepower to compete.

However, rather unlike the hosts, Bochum have found it very difficult to keep teams at bay, as they’ve shipped no less than ten goals in four games. Unsurprisingly, the visitors, who at this moment in time are without a permanent manager, are still searching for their first clean sheet of the season.

An average of 1.55 expected goals against does point towards Bochum being unfortunate to have conceded as many as they have, but such a number also shows that they’re allowing teams to create plenty. Defensive instability doesn’t bode well ahead of a trip to Mercedes-Benz Arena. Moreover, for all they’ve looked good going forward at times, they’ve not offered much of a threat on the road. Only one of Bochum’s seven goals has come away from home.

In the betting, ‘Stuttgart Win to Nil’ catches the eye. It’s early days, but Stuttgart look like a top side back at this level, especially at home, where they’ve won two out of two. After keeping their first clean sheet of the season last weekend, the hosts, who’ve generally presented their opponents with few chances, are backed to keep a clean sheet on route to beating a Bochum side that has done their good attacking work at home. The visitors have scored just once on the road this term, while they’re averaging a rather poor 0.71 expected goals for.

‘Correct Score’ punters are pointed towards a 2-0 win for the hosts. Stuttgart, who’re averaging two goals for and 2.12 expected goals for, look a good bet to score another couple of goals against a Bochum side that can be kept quiet away from home. After all, Bochum failed to register a shot on target in their most recent away match.