Despite being superior over long stretches, Arminia Bielefeld did not get beyond a draw against VfL Bochum.
At the sold-out Bielefelder Alm, the East Westphalia team scored 1-1 (1-0) on Saturday and left important points in the relegation battle. As table 13th. Bielefeld is currently three points ahead of a direct relegation zone. All three teams in places 16 to 18 will not play until Sunday.
Tenth-placed Bochum, who showed a disappointing performance in the first half, increased their lead over the bottom of the table to seven points and has the best chance of staying in the league. Bielefeld’s lead through Joel Grodowski (27th/foul penalty) was equalized by Bochum through Moritz Kwarteng (79th).
Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat made no changes to the starting eleven after the 3-2 win against Preußen Münster. Bochum’s coach Uwe Rösler also trusted the same players at the beginning as in the 2-1 win against Greuther Fürth.
Grodowski puts Arminia in the lead
Arminia controlled the game right from the kick-off and had the first opportunity. Monju Momuluh (9th minute) moved into the penalty area from the right side and aimed at the near corner from nine meters, but Bochum keeper Timo Horn fended off the powerful shot with his fists.
Bielefeld repeatedly looked for a route down the flanks and caused danger, Bochum could hardly get out of their own half. Momuluh (18′) narrowly missed a cross from Tim Handwerker from the left at the second post.
After an Arminia corner, central defender Robin Knoche was prevented from heading the ball by Bochum’s Cajetan Lenz with a foul in the middle. According to the video images, referee Tobias Stieler decided on a penalty. Grodowski (27th) stepped up and put the ball on the right inside post, from which the ball bounced into the goal.
Bochum’s offensive does not take place
With the lead behind them, Bielefeld stayed on the accelerator, Stefano Russo (32′) headed just past the top left corner after a corner. Bochum had to make an early change due to injury: Leandro Morgalla came on for the injured Maximilian Wittek (37th).
In the 45th minute, Bochum came close to the Bielefeld goal for the first time, but it wasn’t dangerous. In stoppage time, Arminia keeper Jonas Kersken briefly caused a stir when he dropped a caught ball, but Bochum’s subsequent shot on goal by Noah Loosli – the first of the game – was blocked.
No penalty after a controversial scene
After the half-time break, VfL defended higher and immediately had their first good opportunity when a deflected long-range shot from Gerrit Holtmann (47th) from 17 meters flew just past the right post. On the other side, Momuluh (53′) went down in the Bochum penalty area after a running duel with Morgalla and was hit in the foot, but referee Stieler allowed play to continue.
Bielefeld needed a few minutes to adjust to Bochum’s higher position before a shot from Arminia’s captain Maël Corboz (60th) from a half-right position went past the left post. Then Bochum had its best chance of the game so far: After a pass from Koji Miyoshi, Callum Marshall ran towards the Bielefeld goal and played a cross pass to Holtmann (65th), who was denied by Kersken.
Bochum counterattacks after Horn’s brilliant parade
Afterwards, Bielefeld defended well and hardly allowed anything to happen. After a great chance from Bielefeld at the beginning of the final phase, Bochum finally equalized. After Bielefeld’s corner, Horn brilliantly parried a header from Russo before Farid Alfa-Ruprecht initiated Bochum’s counterattack. The ball came in the middle to Kwarteng, who had just been substituted (79th), who shot from 13 meters out of the turn and hit the bottom right of the goal.
In the remaining minutes only Bielefeld played, but the Bochum team still got a leg up and defended their point. After the final whistle, Arminia coach Kniat saw the red card.
Arminia now in Kaiserslautern
On the penultimate matchday, Bielefeld will face 1. FC Kaiserslautern (May 8th/6:30 p.m.), while Hertha BSC will play in the season finale (May 17th/3:30 p.m.). Bochum hosts Hannover 96 next weekend (May 9th/1 p.m.) before an away game at Karlsruher SC (May 17th/3:30 p.m.).
Our sources:
- Game between Bielefeld and Bochum on May 2nd, 2026
Broadcast: WDR.de, “Bochum gets an important point on the Alm – the audio highlights”, May 2nd, 2026, 3:27 p.m
