A local derby can often throw up some strange results but the clash between Bochum and Schalke 04 this afternoon should go to form.
Schalke sit in second place in the Bundesliga. Their coach Felix Magath has seen it all before with Bayern and Wolfsberg and whilst he tries to under play their chances there is no doubt at puntinplay that they will go close this season.
The Royal Blues have the best away record in the league. Five victories, two defeats and only one loss against the team with a long name. Magath has no major injury concerns and he knows that a victory will take his team top.
Bochum have improved under their new coach Heiko Herrlich and have won their last two games, both away, against Monchengladbach and Hanover. However their home form is the problem and they have lost three of their last four.
Schalke 04 tend to be a team of grinders. Although they are top of the away table they are only seventh in the half-time away table, which means they have often been a second half side during the first half of the season.
Schalke 04 at 1.91 is a very solid bet and whilst we don't like to recommend odds on away from home in this we feel it still offers value.
