Bochum vs Stuttgart Prediction: Holders can battle through at Ruhrstadion

Relegated from the Bundesliga last season, Bochum are only 12th in the second tier and host top-level Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.

Die Roten's four-game unbeaten run in all competitions was ended by Sunday's 2-1 reverse at Hamburg, while their hosts won 3-0 at Furth and have already beaten Augsburg 1-0 in this competition. 

Last May, Stuttgart beat surprise package Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 to win this competition and they should be able to maintain their quest for a fifth DFB-Pokal with a victory at the Ruhrstadion.

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Team News

Bochum boss Uwe Rosler is without experienced defender Kevin Vogt due to a long-term injury, while midfielder Matus Bero has missed the last four games.

With Europa League football also to contend with, Stuttgart have demonstrated their depth this season, making eight changes from last Thursday's 4-0 win at Go Ahead Eagles for the weekend defeat at Hamburg.

Goalkeeper Alexander Nubel, defenders Ramon Hendriks and Jeff Chabot and attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss were the only four players to start both games, so they could sit out on Wednesday.

However, Sebastian Hoeness is managing his squad, with Ermedin Demirovic, Silas, Tiago Tomas and Axel Zagadou all expected to miss out here.

Football Odds

Bochum vs Stuttgart Odds

Bochum are 6/1 to add a second Bundesliga scalp to their tally, with Stuttgart 2/5 and the draw in 90 minutes 18/1.

A 'no' in both teams to score was the case in all four top-flight meetings between 2023 and 2025.

That outcome is 6/5, while a 'yes' is 8/13. The hosts are 7/2 to win the tie and the visitors 1/6.

Stuttgart to win and both teams to score @ 13/8

The pair's last four meetings have finished in a win-to-zero, three for Stuttgart and one for Bochum, but things could be more open on Wednesday.

Five of Stuttgart's last six games have featured three or more goals, while both teams have scored in four of those contests.

Similarly, Rosler's hosts' last two games have featured exactly three goals: a 2-1 home loss to Dresden, followed by a 3-0 win at Furth.

While both won to zero in the second round, this last-16 clash comes in the thick of a heavy fixture list, especially for the visitors.

Goals feel like a real possibility, but Stuttgart should win.

Today's Football Fixtures

Badredine Bouanani anytime scorer @ 2/1

Badredine Bouanani has still to truly find his form since joining Stuttgart from Nice in the summer but started the defeat at Hamburg and could do so again at the Ruhrstadion.

The 20-year-old needs to add goals to his game, only netting three times in 26 Ligue 1 appearances in 2024-25.

However, he is off the mark in Germany, with both of his strikes coming in the Europa League.

Bouanani was on target last Thursday against Go Ahead Eagles and is tipped to score a third goal for his new club.