Borussia Dortmund is back in the race for the Champions League places. The Black and Yellows didn’t cover themselves with glory against VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga, but they did achieve their third win in a row.
After the successes at the start of the year in Darmstadt (3:0) and Cologne (4:0), BVB took the next three points in the small Revierderby on Sunday (January 28, 2024) with a 3:1 (1:1) against VfL Bochum. The hosts took the lead early on in their home Westfalenstadion thanks to a penalty kick from Niclas Füllkrug (6th minute). The VfL equalizer came with an own goal from Nico Schlotterbeck (45th), before Füllkrug (72nd, 90th + 1 penalty) secured the home win with his second and third goals.
With the success, Dortmund (36 points) moves past the struggling RB Leipzig (33) into fourth place, Bochum (20 points) is fourteenth.
Füllkrug penalty brings an early lead
The game started optimally for BVB, who had to cope with the loss of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and playmaker Julian Brandt. Bochum defender Ivan Ordets stumbled on a rebound from his own defensive line into the path of Donyell Malen, who ran energetically into the penalty area and fell over the rushing VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann. Füllkrug converted the following penalty very confidently to make it 1-0.
But the early lead did not give Dortmund’s game any more security or momentum. Bochum got involved and just missed the equalizer a little later when Erhan Masovic slipped just past the second post on a corner (9th). VfL remained compact in defense, played straight forward and looked for their chances.
Bochum plays along cheekily
And so the equalizer was not undeserved – even if the hosts contributed heavily to their first goal conceded in 2024. Füllkrug lost the ball in the build-up. Patrick Osterhage brought the ball flat in front of the goal from the left and Schlotterbeck slipped the ball over his own goal line in front of his ready goalkeeper Alexander Meyer to make it 1-1.
Even in the second half, Bochum did not deviate from its course and remained active. Osterhage (51st) narrowly missed a shot from 22 meters. Christopher Antwi-Adjei (59th) tested Meyer with a shot at the near corner. The first, serious offensive sign of life came from the black and yellow team with a Moukoko shot (60th).
Bynoe-Gittens provides momentum
But after that, BVB became more compelling and determined every minute. The substitutions of Gio Reyna and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in particular brought a lot of momentum. It was the Englishman, who was strong at dribbling, who initiated the winning goal with a pass to Marcel Sabitzer. Füllkrug powerfully headed his cross into the center to make it 2-1.
Bochum continued to fight despite the setback. Moritz Kwarteng (87th) checked Meyer again. Then Füllkrug made the decision with his 13th Bundesliga penalty in a row.
BVB in Heidenheim, Bochum against Augsburg
The black and yellow open the 20th matchday away at 1. FC Heidenheim (Friday, February 2nd, 2024 at 8:30 p.m.). A day later, VfL hosts FC Augsburg at Castroper Straße (3:30 p.m.).