VfL Bochum is still on the road to success in the 2nd Bundesliga under new coach Uwe Rösler. We achieved a convincing win against 1. FC Magdeburg.
In the Revierklub’s 2-0 (1-0) win, the spectators saw an attractive game and a balanced first half. After the change, coach Uwe Rösler’s team was significantly better and earned the three points that allowed Bochum to climb to 14th place in the table.
With his first goal of the season, Kjell Wätjen put VfL in the lead (41st), Gerrit Holtmann made the final score after an hour. Magdeburg’s Falko Michel missed a great chance to score in the 81st minute when he shot a penalty kick onto the crossbar.
“We were second to last in the table, the game was groundbreaking for us. We swam in the first ten minutes and then worked our way into the game and then launched very good counterattacks. A huge compliment to my team.”analyzed Bochum’s coach Uwe Rösler.
Magdeburg’s coaches Petrik Sander and Pascal Ibold conceded the first goals and also the first defeat as the Magdeburg coaching duo. “We started well. But Bochum also had its chances. It could have tipped in one direction or the other”said Sander. He is not afraid of the future after the defeat. “You could see that we are intact as a team. We will continue on this path”said Sander.
Sports show, November 2nd, 2025 4:35 p.m
Two teams on the rise
VfL Bochum started the match day second to last and FCM last. But both teams have shown an upward trend under the new coaches in recent weeks.
The Bochum team won at home against Hertha BSC and picked up a point at Holstein Kiel before surprisingly moving into the round of 16 of the DFB Cup with a 1-0 win at Bundesliga club FC Augsburg.
Magdeburg started under Petrik Sander with a 0-0 draw at SV Darmstadt 98, then won 2-0 against SC Preußen Münster and then prevailed 3-0 at regional league team FV Illertissen in the second round of the cup.
Horn saves for VfL, post and crossbar for FCM
The teams approached the duel in the sold-out Ruhrstadion with confidence. The game was more attractive than many encounters in the promotion race. Both teams had very good opportunities with numerous shots. VfL could especially thank goalkeeper Timo Horn for keeping a clean sheet in the first half.
The guests from Saxony-Anhalt were twice lucky that the Bochum team didn’t score for the first time before the 41st minute, as the post and crossbar saved it. Then it was Daniel Heber who cleared the ball in front of Farid Alfa-Ruprecht with a resolute and precise tackle.
Wätjen takes advantage of Mathisen’s mistakes
A blatant mistake by Marcus Mathisen then allowed VfL to take the lead. The central defender carelessly allowed the ball to be taken from him by Kjell Wätjen. After a long sprint, the loanee from Borussia Dortmund only had goalkeeper Dominik Reimann in front of him, whom he beat with a lob.
Stefan Hänsel, Sportschau 2. Bundesliga Highlights, Sportschau, November 2nd, 2025 3:44 p.m
Holtmann with the 2-0
VfL pushed for the second goal after the break. There were several opportunities to do this around the 56th minute. But Reimann, among other things, fended off a shot from Francis Onyeka, who had scored three goals against Hertha and Kiel. Mathisen also saved on the line.
There was hardly any time for the fans to mourn the chances, because in the 60th minute a deflected shot from Gerrit Holtmann landed in the net to make it 2-0.
Michel shoots a penalty onto the crossbar
Magdeburg didn’t play as well as in the first half, but it was solid. After a foul by Leandro Morgalla on Alexander Nollenberger, which referee Felix Wagner only recognized and punished on the monitor, Michael had the chance to connect. But the shot bounced off the crossbar and into the field.
Bochum in Braunschweig, Magdeburg against Paderborn
Bochum will be guests at Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday lunchtime (1:30 p.m.). Magdeburg welcomes SC Paderborn on matchday 12 at the same time.