The first matchday of the new 2. Bundesliga season will see Bochum and Hertha face off, and all signs point to a high-scoring game. Both teams are in excellent form: Bochum are unbeaten in seven matches, while Hertha extended their unbeaten run to five. Hertha underwent significant personnel changes this summer, losing key players like Fabian Riese and Michael Cuisance, but they demonstrated a fighting spirit and scoring potential in friendly matches.
The teams' head-to-head record and recent matches confirm that their defenses are often weak. Six of Hertha's last seven games have featured both sides scoring, while eight of Bochum's last twelve matches have been "both teams to score." Head-to-head encounters also often produce goals: three of the last four matches between these rivals have featured goals, with the average goal-scoring rate hovering around 2-3 per game. Hertha, however, has personnel issues in the center of defense, while Bochum is relying on aggressive, attacking football.
Considering both teams' high performance in preseason, their weak defense, and their open style of play, a bet on both clubs scoring seems highly reasonable. The probability of this happening is estimated at 65%, and even despite being the nominal host, Bochum is unlikely to keep a clean sheet.
