52.
16:41
Hollerbach’s cross is weak and easy prey for Riemann, but the Iron Men are noticeably stronger and keep the VfL defense more busy.
51.
16:40
Ivan Ordets is also in demand up front and shoots past the goal to the left after a corner from the crowd. It didn’t take much to make it 0:4.
49.
16:38
Substitute Vertessen immediately gets going and moves into the penalty area after a one-two from the left. His shot from 15 meters is then strongly blocked by Ivan Ordets, and there was also an offside position at some point and the flag goes up.
48.
16:37
Can the people of Köpenick make a difference here again? At least Union has much better body language in the first few minutes and accepts the duels.
46.
16:36
With three fresh players on the Berlin side, the second half begins.
46.
16:35
Substitution at 1. FC Union Berlin: Chris Bedia
46.
16:34
Substitution at 1. FC Union Berlin: Lucas Tousart
46.
16:34
Substitution at 1. FC Union Berlin: Brenden Aaronson
46.
16:34
Substitution at 1. FC Union Berlin: Kevin Volland
46.
16:34
Substitution at 1. FC Union Berlin: Yorbe Vertessen
46.
16:34
Substitution at 1. FC Union Berlin: Kevin Vogt
46.
16:34
Kick-off of the 2nd half
45.+3
16:22
Half-time conclusion:
The relegation clash between Union Berlin and VfL Bochum was a one-sided affair in the first half. The guests from the Ruhrpott lead 3-0 after 45 minutes against a completely overwhelmed Köpenick team and are well on their way to big points in the basement. VfL was consistently the more active, more alert and more concentrated team and took advantage of their chances in an ice-cold manner. Maximilian Wittek scored a brace before Keven Schlotterbeck scored at half-time. Apart from a header from Diogo Leite, there was next to nothing from Union and the Iron Men have to improve in all respects after the change if they want to come back here again. The spectators can know that they have their backs, because despite the indisputable performance in the first half, there is only encouragement and no whistles at halftime. See you soon!
45.+3
16:17
End of 1st half
45.+1
16:17
After a clumsy foul by Vogt, Stöger is ready to take the free kick from a good 30 meters. The Bochum player fakes a direct shot, but then lobs the ball behind the wall to the advancing Ordets. But his header is too weak and easy prey for Rønnow.
45.
16:15
Official injury time (minutes): 2
43.
16:13
Bochum continues cheerfully. A cross from the left comes down to Bernardo at the second post, but his header is just barely blocked.
41.
16:12
The next chance for VfL! Stöger plays a corner kick from the right side surprisingly flat to the box, where absolutely no one has Matúš Bero on the screen. He can shoot from 16 meters completely unchallenged, but doesn’t do it particularly well and gets stuck in the many-legged Berlin defense.
39.
16:10
While the away fans are already celebrating and chanting “We’re staying in,” the Berlin supporters are still wondering what’s actually going on here. The Iron team’s game lacks almost everything. This year’s Champions League participants are continuing to spiral towards relegation.
37.
16:06
Tooor for VfL Bochum, 0:3 by Keven Schlotterbeck
Union is simply not on task and is punished coldly again! The Iron Men failed to clear the ball properly three times, and VfL continued to follow up. Ultimately, Passlack has the ball on the left side of the box and passes it half-high to the inside. Schlotterbeck runs in undisturbed at the penalty spot and brings the ball to the goal with his left hand. Diogo Leite deflects and Frederik Rønnow is once again powerless.
34.
16:05
Almost the Unioners’ answer! Juranović takes a free kick from the right half of the field sharply towards the penalty area, where Diogo Leite runs in, rises perfectly and heads powerfully towards the left corner. Riemann flies off early, catches the ball and comes back down with it in his arm centimeters before the line.
31.
16:00
Tooor for VfL Bochum, 0:2 by Maximilian Wittek
A sensational hit! Bochum is once again more alert in midfield, wins two duels and Osterhage approaches the penalty area with the ball. Then he passes through the half-right corner of the box to Wittek, who first hits a hook and lets Danilho Doekhi slide into space. With a feint he lets Diogo Leite get out and from ten meters he nets a dry shot into the near corner with his strong left foot. Double pack for Wittek!
27.
15:58
Stöger takes the next free kick surprisingly flat on the left side and sends Patrick Osterhage down the line. Union initially fails to defend his sharp cross and there is brief chaos in front of the goal, but in the end no ball hits Frederik Rønnow’s goal.
25.
15:56
Diogo Leite obviously gets hurt in a duel, immediately bends on the ground and complains loudly to the referee. Three seconds later everything is suddenly fine again and we can continue.
23.
15:55
Overall, the guests seem a bit fresher, are always a little quicker on the ball and win the majority of duels. Union seems unsettled and can do little offensively.
20.
15:51
On the other hand, Stöger takes a free kick from the left half of the field into the penalty area, but finds no taker there.
18.
15:50
Hollerbach takes a free kick for the Iron Men in a duel with Bernardo on the right wing. This time Juranović brings the ball inside better and finds Doekhi, who, under pressure, doesn’t get his dropkick on goal.
16.
15:45
Tooor for VfL Bochum, 0-1 by Maximilian Wittek
A tee shot from Rønnow comes back immediately and Hofmann heads it off for Stöger, who has the presence of mind to send Broschinski, who starts off on the right, on his way. From the baseline he passes the ball into the backcourt and finds Maximilian Wittek. He just keeps his foot in and hits the short corner from seven meters. Rønnow is still there, but has no chance.
13.
15:43
Both sides operate a lot with long and high balls and then attack the second balls energetically. It’s hardly going to be a playful treat today, but no one was certainly expecting it.
12.
15:42
After an initially short corner, Josip Juranović sends the ball into the box, but again doesn’t have the necessary height.
10.
15:40
This time Stöger brings the leather flat into the box and finds Hofmann there. The striker moves inwards 15 meters in front of the goal and shoots from 15 meters, but is immediately blocked.
8.
15:39
Bochum’s first tentative advance results in a cross from Stöger, which is slightly deflected and falls like an arc into the arms of keeper Rønnow.
6.
15:36
Josip Juranović wants to take a free kick cross from the left half of the field into the penalty area, but can barely get the ball into the air. Bochum easily clears the ball well before the penalty area.
4.
15:34
Both teams start off a bit nervous and the game has been pretty disjointed up to this point. Hardly any phase of possession lasts longer than a few seconds.
2.
15:33
After just a few seconds, Hollerbach gets a good beating from Ordets, then stands up and holds his ankle. After a short break in treatment, things seem to be moving on for now.
1.
15:31
The ball is rolling! The hosts play in red and white, Bochum wears blue.
1.
15:30
Game start
15:21
The game is led by referee Marco Fritz and his two assistants Dominik Schaal and Marcel Pelgrim. Pascal Müller is responsible for the video evidence this afternoon.
15:04
Union coach Bjelica warned in advance about the resurgent guests. “It will be a tough nut to crack. Bochum is a team that plays very purposefully,” said the 52-year-old, who is primarily relying on the home advantage: “We are maximally focused and hope, especially with the support of our team Fans want the three points to stay in the An der Alten Försterei stadium.” Heiko Butscher, on the other hand, was relieved after his first success: “The win against Hoffenheim was good for all of us, the team, the fans, the environment,” said the visiting coach, who above all wants to implement one thing in Berlin: “We We have to get our football back on the pitch.”
14:48
A look at the lineups: There are two changes for the home team compared to the previous week. András Schäfer and Benedict Hollerbach slide into the starting line-up for Yorbe Vertessen and Brenden Aaronson (both bench). At VfL there is only one change and it is necessary. Patrick Osterhage replaces the suspended Anthony Losilla in midfield.
14:46
Interim coach Heiko Butscher was able to score their first win for the guests in the third game. With the 3-2 win against Hoffenheim, in which Kevin Stöger played a major role with his brace, VfL scored three points for the first time after eight games without a win and gained some breathing room in the relegation battle. Now the people of Bochum finally want to take something with them when they are abroad, because they have hardly succeeded in doing so so far. With a meager seven points away from home, VfL Bochum is the worst away team in the entire league.
14:37
A few months ago the Iron Men hosted Real Madrid, next season they could go to Elversberg. Union has experienced an unprecedented crash this season, which even Nenad Bjelica was unable to prevent after successful coach Urs Fischer left. The Croatian was able to achieve five wins in 16 games. From the last five games there was only anything worth counting for the Köpenickers thanks to two zero numbers. At least in the last game in Gladbach after the break, Berlin showed a strong performance, but missed the winning goal.
14:31
Exactly one goal separates the Eisernen and VfL in the table before this third-to-last game. Union is in 14th place, directly ahead of Bochum and both teams are only two points ahead of the relegation place. Mainz 05, who have been playing strongly recently, are currently playing there in Heidenheim later in the evening. Both clubs absolutely need points in the fight to stay in the league. After Cologne’s draw yesterday, one point would be enough for both of them to at least avoid direct relegation.
Hello and welcome to the penultimate Bundesliga Sunday of the 2023/24 season! Today at the old forestry station there is a real relegation clash between Union Berlin and VfL Bochum. Things get going at 3:30 p.m.!