Dusseldorf. VfL Bochum needs a miracle in the second leg of the relegation match in Düsseldorf to avoid relegation. The game today in the live ticker.
Fortuna Düsseldorf is the first second division team to secure promotion to the Bundesliga for the second time in the relegation round. The third-placed team in the second division will face VfL Bochum in the return match in the Düsseldorf EM-Arena on Monday evening (8.30 p.m./Sat.1 and Sky) and can achieve promotion to the first division for the seventh time overall after the 3-0 first leg win.
To prevent this from happening, Bochum coach Heiko Butscher is once again setting an example with his line-up. Lukas Daschner is a surprise starter in the last game of the season. The offensive all-rounder has hardly played a role this season, but is the technically strong player that would be needed for the miracle. Tim Oermann is also a surprise in the starting eleven. Captain Anthony Losilla is also returning to the starting eleven. Christopher Antwi-Adjei is not in the squad due to adductor problems. Moritz Broschinski is also missing. He had to stop training on Sunday due to injury.
Fortuna Düsseldorf against VfL Bochum: The second leg of the relegation match today in the live ticker
Fortuna Düsseldorf vs VfL Bochum: Click here for the live ticker
Bochum’s aim is to avoid being relegated from the first division for the seventh time in three years in the Bundesliga. VfL interim coach Heiko Butscher will still have to do without goalkeeper Manuel Riemann and suspended defender Bernardo for internal reasons. Düsseldorf will field the winning team from the first leg. The second leg of the Bundesliga relegation can be found here in the live ticker.
Fortuna Düsseldorf – VfL Bochum: The lineups
Fortuna Dusseldorf: Kastenmeier – Iyoha, de Wijs, Oberdorf, Zimmermann – Engelhardt, Sobottka – Tzolis, Tanaka, Klaus – Vermeij
VfL Bochum: Luthe – Schlotterbeck, Ordets, Oermann – Wittek, Losilla, Bero – Daschner, Stöger – Hofmann.
A relegation of VfL Bochum would have drastic personnel consequences. More than a dozen players will leave, a new coach is being sought and, according to information from this editorial team, it is very unlikely that the club’s sporting management with sporting director Marc Lettau and sporting director Patrick Fabian will remain in office.
Only a miracle can help VfL Bochum in Düsseldorf.
© Ralf Ibing /firo Sportphoto | Ralf Ibing
The resistance announced by Bochum after the embarrassing first leg defeat sounded more defiant than realistic. “If Düsseldorf can score three goals here, why shouldn’t we be able to do it in Düsseldorf,” said playmaker Kevin Stöger. Defender Keven Schlotterbeck promised on the pitch on Thursday evening: “We don’t want to be relegated like this.”
VfL Bochum: Butscher expects a reaction
Coach Heiko Butscher was still clearly frustrated from the first leg on Sunday. “We tried to rebuild the team. I can’t say whether we succeeded,” said the interim coach. But he expected a reaction. The 43-year-old Butscher demanded “aggression, intensity, passion and attitude – right up to the final whistle” from the players.