VfL Bochum used the momentum in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga and scored again. A week after the victory against Borussia Dortmund, the team of coach Dieter Hecking at VfL Wolfsburg won a 1-1 (0-0) and initially improved to the relegation place. For Wolfsburg, the draw is a damper in the fight for international places.
An own goal of Ivan Ordets (82nd) saved Wolfsburg one point. Erhan Masovic (50th) had put the guests in the lead. Bochum, which has not yet won away in the current season, has been unbeaten for three games. The gap to saving 15th place is still very large.
Wolfsburg is missing the maturity
The Wolfsburgs around coach Ralph Hasenhüttl, who had in vainly warned against the Bochum standards, are looking for the necessary consistency in the race for international business. Already at the end of January, the Lower Saxony had left points against a relegation candidate in the home game against Holstein Kiel and missed a supposed competitive victory. The draw was also a damper with a view to the DFB Cup quarter-finals at RB Leipzig next Wednesday.
“It is very difficult to put this opponent under pressure because they free themselves very cleverly. You never actually get the phase where you can put them on properly“, Hasenhüttl praised the Bochumer in the Sportschau interview: “We just have to learn that and get better.”
Inka Blumensaat, Sportschau, 22.02.2025 6:42 p.m.
Wolfsburg starts better into play
The Wolfsburgers, who continued to do without their injured captain Maximilian Arnold, took control early and let the ball and opponents run. Bochum disturbed the calm building actor of the “wolves” with various little fouls, but the hosts came to the first chances.
Overall, Wolfsburg made too little superiority out of playful superiority, the actions lacked pace and accuracy. The initial momentum was lost in the course of the increasingly balanced first half.
Sportschau Bundesliga Highlights, 22.02.2025 5:43 p.m.
Masovic ensures deserved Bochum leadership
However, Bochum, who was defensively stable, had a share of the lack of opportunities for the European Cup aspirant, lurking on counterattack and almost successful: Masouras (27th) forced Wolfsburg goalkeeper Marius Müller from a short distance.
A little later, captain Philipp Hofmann (36th) failed after a corner. Bochum also sensed his chance after the change of sides, bravely played forward – and was rewarded. Masovic had a lot of space on a corner and headed undisturbed to the lead, which Hofmann (53.) could have increased shortly afterwards. Wolfsburg seemed shocked, the hosts’ game remained error.
Inka Blumensaat, Sportschau, 22.02.2025 6:38 p.m.
Wolfsburg saves point
Amoura’s supposed compensation did not count because of a previous foul, but at least woke the Wolfsburg team out of her lethargy. In the last 25 minutes, they vigorously urged the equalization.
After a corner kick, Svanberg saved the favorite at least one point. Nevertheless, it remained in the end that the “wolves” have made twice as many away (6) as home victories (3) this season. With one place in the top six, it becomes difficult in view of this balance.
Wolfsburg in Bremen, Bochum against Hoffenheim
Wolfsburg will be a guest in Bremen next Saturday (3:30 p.m.). At the same time, Bochum plays at TSG from Hoffenheim.