German 2.Bundesliga
2025-08-23 - Schalke 04 vs VfL Bochum
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; Germany: 2.Bundesliga
Veltins Arena – Gelsenkirchen
Saturday, 23rd August 2025 - kickoff 20:30 CET
Schalke 04
Schalke 04 comes into this game hoping to find some rhythm after a mixed start to the season. They won 2-1 against Hertha Berlin in the first round, but then lost 1-0 to Kaiserslautern in the second. Not an ideal 2.Bundesliga start.
They looked more aggressive in their home game, with Moussa Sulla looking sharp in the midfield. If the midfield connects well and they keep the ball moving, Schalke 04 should create plenty of chances in this match.
The tricky part for them is avoiding mistakes at the back. VfL Bochum loves a quick break, and Schalke 04’s defense has shown moments of vulnerability. They’ll need to stay alert, especially on set-pieces, because VfL Bochum has proved so far that they can punish even small lapses.
VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum is unpredictable but dangerous, particularly on the counter. They suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against SV Darmstadt 98 in the opening round, but looked completely different and more stable in their 2-0 home win against SV Elversberg in their second game of the season.
Moussa Sissoko and Moritz Broschinski have the pace to catch Schalke 04 out, and if they get early chances, Schalke 04 could be in trouble. Their midfield needs to stay tight to stop Schalke 04 from building momentum.
Defensively, they have been exposed on the flanks before, so we will see if they are more disciplined in this game. But if VfL Bochum can weather the early storm and hit on a set-piece or counter, they could leave Gelsenkirchen with a point.
The Betting Verdict
I see Schalke 04 controlling most of the game, but this is far from a guaranteed win.
VfL Bochum’s counter-attack threat makes the first half interesting – they could frustrate Schalke 04 early. In any case, we should expect a lively, tight game where one mistake could decide it.
A valuable bet is Schalke 04 to win, possibly with both teams scoring.
The Pick :
Schalke 04 2-1 VfL Bochum
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
Take Schalke 04 to win at odds of 2.59 at SportBet.One
