Münster and Bochum are only separated by five points in the table. But the emotional worlds couldn’t be more different.
In the 2nd football-Bundesliga is almost traditionally close, and this year too. The VfL Bochum and Preußen Münster are currently separated by seven places in the table. While Bochum is in eighth place in the seemingly secure midfield, the Prussians in 15th place are in the middle of a relegation battle. But: Both teams are separated by just five points.
The direct duel on Friday (6.30 p.m.) will be explosive. If VfL wins in Münster, it will be a big step towards staying in the league. If Münster wins, the Prussians will gain some breathing room and at the same time tear VfL down a bit.
Bochum is a top team under Rösler
The Prussians have already shown this season that Münster can beat Bochum. In the first leg, the Münster team celebrated a 2-1 away win at VfL thanks to two goals from Joshua Mees. However, that was half a year ago and six months is a long time in football.
A lot has changed since then. Among other things, the VfL coach is no longer called Dieter Hecking, but Uwe Rösler. A change that paid off. Rösler not only stabilized VfL after a weak start to the season, but also shaped them into a top team. Since Rösler took office on matchday 9, no team has scored as many points as VfL (23). Last weekend, Bochum even beat league leaders Schalke 04 2-0.
Münster have not won in six games
Things look completely different in Münster. The Prussians have been without a win for six games. After the 2-1 win in Bochum on matchday 4, Münster only won three more wins. The role of favorite is therefore clearly distributed. The downward trend in Münster meets the upward trend in Bochum.
Rösler didn’t want to know anything about it on Thursday and warned against the Prussians: “Everyone who deals with the 2nd league knows that Münster is the best ball possession team in the league, especially in their own half,” he said. “It will be a very difficult game, completely different than against Schalke.”
He therefore demands courage and a “certain risk” from his team: “It’s a huge challenge. My players have been warned, they can still remember the first leg well.”
Münster wants Switching situations impede
Bochum’s greatest strength is the transition situations. Both goals against Schalke also came from counterattacks on the wings. For Münster’s coach Alexander Ende, the match plan is clear: “It’s best that the transition phase doesn’t take place at all because our possession of the ball is so strong,” he said.
The personified transition phase at VfL Bochum is the lightning-fast Gerrit Holtmann, who prepared both goals against Schalke. That’s why Ende is paying particular attention to him: “We have to prevent Holtmann from being played at an early stage. And if it does happen, a second of our defensive players should be able to come to help if possible.”
Münster are missing nine players
However, Holtmann is not the only problem for the Münster team, but also a thin staffing level. Nine players are missing injured or suspended. Among other things, central defender Jannis Heuer is suspended, which could be a problem against Bochum’s powerful striker Philipp Hofmann. With the winter additions Shin Yamada (Celtic Glasgow), Imad Rondic (1. FC Köln) and Tobias Raschl (Kaiserslautern), new options are also available at the end.
There are also new faces in Bochum. With Mikkel Rakneberg and Oliver Olsen, two Norwegians are new to the flanks. “On the left side it will be important to give Mikkel Rakneberg minutes so that he gets used to everything. With his size he can be a factor offensively and defensively, brings good dynamics, hits good crosses and is full of energy. It’s similar with Oliver Olsen on the other side,” said Rösler.
Rösler, on the other hand, has to do without Matus Bero and Ibrahim Sissiko. According to Rösler, Mats Pnewig is again an option for the starting eleven.
Our sources:
- VfL Bochum press conference
- Press conference Prussia Münster
Broadcast: “NRW duel between Münster and Bochum”, WDR.deFebruary 5, 2026, 10:20 p.m
