13th matchday
3-1 against Wolfsburg: Bochum celebrates its first home win of the season
Bochum’s Bernardo (2nd from left) headed the goal to make it 2-0. photo
© David Inderlied/dpa
On matchday 13, VfL Bochum also achieved their first win in their home stadium. It’s deserved thanks to a strong first half. Wolfsburg’s weakness away from home continues.
Thanks to the redeeming first home win of the season VfL Bochum has gained some breathing room in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. The Bochum team won against VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 (2-1) and have 13 points after 13 games.
The ambitious Wolfsburg team, on the other hand, are in danger of losing contact with the European Cup places after their sixth away defeat in a row.
Midfielder Patrick Osterhage (19th) and full-back Bernardo (40th) gave Bochum a 2-0 lead with their first Bundesliga goal. Mattias Svanberg (45th + 1) initially shortened the score for Lower Saxony, but Christopher Antwi-Adjei (87th) made things clear with Bochum’s third goal.
Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovac lost in his 13th Bundesliga duel as a player or coach for the first time against Bochum, which extended the contract of fellow coach Thomas Letsch until 2026 on Thursday.
Letsch only made one change – but it was a bit surprising. Matus Bero was back in the starting line-up straight away after he tore his knee ligament on matchday 6. At Wolfsburg, Kovac would have preferred to start the game with the same starting eleven after the 2-1 win against Leipzig. Sebastiaan Bornauw had to pass when he was injured, and Moritz Jenz started in his place in the back three.
Powerful start from Bochum
The Bochum team, who had suffered two bitter defeats in the VfL duels last year with 1:5 and 0:4, started with commitment and pressure. But it was a mishap that almost gave them the lead: Wolfsburg keeper Koen Casteels had the ball jump over his foot after a back pass from Ridle Baku, but he was able to clear it centimeters from the line (13th). A few seconds later, Casteels parried really well against Bero.
It was the starting signal for a real Bochum pressure phase, and after several blocked attempts, the reward quickly followed. After a corner, Erhan Masovic headed the ball back to the edge of the penalty area, Osterhage placed it on his strong left foot and scored with a low shot. Wolfsburg seemed surprisingly emotionless, and Bochum followed up. First captain Anthony Losilla hit the post (38th), then Bernado headed in from a corner.
VfL goalkeeper Riemann is increasingly in focus
Kovac watched the next setback almost motionless with his arms crossed over his chest. Svansberg’s equalizer shortly before the half-time whistle after a great pass from Jonas Wind felt like it came out of nowhere.
After the break, the guests increased the pressure, and as the game went on, VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann became more of a focus. However, the Bochum team defended passionately and launched one or two dangerous counterattacks. This also resulted in Antwi-Adjei’s goal.