bto VfL Bochum The change of coach only paid off to a certain extent. In the first match under the management of Letsch's successor, Heiko Butscher, the Bundesliga's fourth-bottom team was held to a 1-1 (0-0) draw against 1. FC Heidenheim. This means that Revierklub went winless for the seventh time in a row and still has to worry about staying in the league.
The difference with 16th place in relegation was reduced to one point. First, Keven Schlotterbeck (81st) put his team ahead with an own goal, but then scored the famous equalizer in the 90th minute. The advantage over the relegation place Mainz 05 Now it's a point.
On Saturday at the Ruhrstadion, 24,414 spectators witnessed a mixed-level match with two goals disallowed, according to the video. The guests demonstrated their reputation as an acceptable away team: of the last eight Bundesliga games away from home, only one was lost.
The Bochum team, which had only changed in one position and dramatically squandered a 1-0 lead in Cologne last week by conceding two goals in added time, was clearly trying to make amends. From the beginning VfL took control and put pressure on the guests. However, Heidenheim's defense, well organized by coach Frank Schmidt, did not falter.
Bayern wins a duel
The fact that both teams recently defeated FC Bayern 3-2 was only partially reflected on the pitch. Although there was a lot of passion in the duels, there was a lack of playful creativity. Also table 10, which is mainly concerned with scoring goals. At first it was not possible to give structure to the wild game. Only in set pieces executed by specialist Jan-Niklas Beste was there a hint of a goal threat.
It was not until the 28th minute that the spectators had the first real chance to score, when Bochum left-back Bernado tested FC goalkeeper Kevin Müller from a tight angle. Four minutes later, Kevin Stöger's spectacular shot from 18 meters went just wide as VfL moved even closer to 1-0.
The Heidenheimers gradually released themselves from the pressure. After two missed opportunities by Tim Kleindienst (40th) and Kevin Sessa (41st), the lead seemed perfect shortly before the break. But Beste's goal (43') was disallowed for a handball, according to the video.
After the reboot, the entertainment value increased. Only with great difficulty was the FC Müller goalkeeper able to deflect a shot by Takuma Asano (56th) from 14 meters and thus prevent his team from falling behind. A little later, as can be seen from the video, VfL were also denied recognition for a goal by Asano (63'), after VfL captain Anthony Losilla committed a foul on Patrick Mainka, the match was initially left goalless.
In keeping with Bochum's run of bad luck in recent weeks, an own goal from Schotterbeck seemed to seal the next defeat and in the end it wasn't even enough to earn a point. But Schlotterbeck avoided this situation in the last minute, heading in a corner taken by Stöger.