Draw against Union: Bochum faces relegation next Friday

VfL Bochum won in court, but no one won on the pitch – and that has consequences. After the 1-1 (0-1) draw against 1. FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga, Bochum would slip into the second division if they lose on the next matchday. Benedict Hollerbach (17th minute) gave the visitors the lead in the rematch after a lighter was thrown, and Matus Bero (68th) equalized. The match was overshadowed by an injury to Union's Diogo Leite.

If Berlin were seeking revenge after the first leg, which was abandoned due to a lighter being thrown at VfL goalkeeper Patrick Drewes' head and subsequently awarded in Bochum's favor by the DFB sports tribunal , this was the perfect opportunity. Union had previously secured their league status and now had the chance to push their opponents deep into the relegation mess after Holstein Kiel and 1. FC Heidenheim had won.

Coach Steffen Baumgart's team entered the game with six consecutive unbeaten matches, including draws against league leaders FC Bayern Munich (1-1) and Bayer Leverkusen (0-0). Union started with a correspondingly high degree of confidence against a dynamic Bochum side – and then struck in their typical style.

It's been known for years that Berlin is dangerous from set pieces – yet most teams, including Bochum, can't prevent it. Although the VfL defense initially managed to head Christopher Trimmel's corner out of the penalty area, it landed at the feet of Benedict Hollerbach, whose direct shot was deflected unstoppably by Maximilian Wittek (17').

Shortly afterwards, however, Wittek also provided a wake-up call for the hosts. The Bochum player hit the ball perfectly with a long-range shot from 30 meters, but it flew just wide of the top corner (22'). Union were also lucky ten minutes later when Frederik Rönnow uncertainly flicked a cross from Wittek onto the foot of Jakov Medic, whose effort was headed off the line by Leopold Querfeld (32').

Another ten minutes later, Medic had another great opportunity when he found himself completely unmarked from eleven meters after a rehearsed free kick, but the defender missed the ball (42'). The score remained 1-0 at halftime for Berlin, who, with an expected goals ratio of 0.02, converted fifty times their chances.

That changed after the restart, when Union had a great opportunity to make it 2-0, but Andrej Ilic, alone in front of the opposing goal, only hit the outside post (50'). A little later, the ball hit the woodwork again, this time on the other side - Tom Krauß also hit the post from 25 meters (56').

Just seconds later, the match faded into the background. Berlin defender Diogo Leite blocked a long-range shot with his larynx and fell to the ground. The Spaniard was treated for about seven minutes before paramedics were able to stretcher him off the pitch.

"He's doing well considering the circumstances," Union coach Baumgart gave Sportschau after the game. "We're glad there's nothing dramatic."

Things quickly became tense again after this nasty incident. Querfeld pulled Dani de Wit's shirt near the edge of the penalty area, and Deniz Aytekin awarded a free kick. However, the referee was correctly corrected by VAR, and a penalty was awarded. Bero stepped up but was denied by Rönnow, but the midfielder finally got the ball in the Bochum stadium with a rebound (68').

Spurred on by an incredibly loud crowd, the hosts attempted a complete turnaround – knowing that, like the other two bottom-placed teams, Heidenheim and Kiel, they needed a win to stay in the game. Only in the event that Bochum had picked up three points against Berlin, a defeat in the relegation summit next Friday (May 2, 8:30 p.m.) would not have sealed relegation, and VfL could have even overtaken them with a win.

This hope was almost dashed long before the final whistle, however, as Berlin again threatened from a set piece. Although it was defended, there was another follow-up shot, which Tom Rothe fired just over the bar (78'). Then, Timo Horn prevented a slapstick own goal from Bochum at the last moment after Bernardo had played a backpass past his goalkeeper (80').

The match was heated and hard-fought, but Union (who face Werder Bremen next Saturday) had the composure to survive this fierce battle. And Bochum lacked the quality to secure the win despite ten minutes of added time. This was partly due to an outstanding save by Rönnow in the 97th minute against de Wit.

" I don't need to comment further on the situation, because everyone knows it ," said Bochum coach Dieter Hecking disappointedly after the game in an interview with Sportschau. "We would have liked to win today. Then it would have been very close and cozy. So we're now four points behind Heidenheim, but you still have the chance to win in Heidenheim."

After the team was just able to avoid relegation in the relegation play-off against Fortuna Düsseldorf last summer after a 3-0 first leg defeat, the fight for this season is in danger of being lost next Friday.

• football
• Bundesliga
• VfL Bochum
• 1. FC Union Berlin