In the first five Bundesliga games after returning to the top flight, the old Ruhrpott giants Schalke 04 failed to win. In the small Revierderby against VfL Bochum it looks like a point division, then an own goal helps. Things are getting tight for VfL coach Reis.
With the first Bundesliga win after 483 days, promoted Schalke 04 landed a liberating blow and further aggravated the crisis at VfL Bochum. After the 1: 3 (0: 1) in the tram derby in Gelsenkirchen, the team of coach Thomas Reis, who was heavily counted, set a negative Bundesliga record: Never before has a Bundesliga club started a season as badly as Bochum with zero points and 4:18 Goals after six games.
Dominick Drexler (38th), Bochum's Erhan Masovic with an own goal (73rd) and Sebastian Polter (90th 6) scored in the first duel between the neighbors in twelve and a half years for the Royal Blues, who improved to twelfth place with six points. Most recently, the Gelsenkircheners, who have to start the next derby at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky), had won in the Bundesliga before their relegation on May 15, 2021 (4: 3 against Frankfurt).
Simon Zoller (51st) had provided the interim compensation. For bottom light Bochum and coach Reis, who is under pressure after the fuss about his summer flirtation with Schalke, the situation is getting more and more serious.
Schalke coach Frank Kramer had to change one position compared to the 1-1 draw at VfB Stuttgart a week ago: Henning Matriciani moved into the starting eleven for Cedric Brunner, who was absent due to muscular problems. Reis made two changes after the 2-0 loss to Werder Bremen: Danilo Soares and ex-Schalke player Philipp Hofmann replaced Jordi Osei-Tutu and Gerrit Holtmann. But the VfL coach had to make a change after just four minutes: Takuma Asano was injured and Holtmann, who goalkeeper Manuel Riemann had berated as a "freak" during training during the week, came on.
The extrovert Bochum keeper was challenged early on in front of 62,041 spectators, but was also lucky when Simon Terodde shot him from close range (7th). The guests initially had great problems freeing themselves from their own half. Schalke often fought for the ball in midfield, but the transition game was usually not quick and precise enough. Terodde hesitated too long and got stuck on VfL defender Masovic (15th).
However, if Bochum came close to the Schalke goal, it became dangerous: First Hofmann headed just over the bar (20'), then Simon Zoller missed the goal with a follow-up shot (22'). However, Zoller had the greatest chance when the ball surprisingly slipped through to him, but he didn't hit it (35').
Riemann helped with Schalke's opening goal, fending off a shot from Marius Bülter right at Drexler's feet. There was initially confusion when equalizing: the team led by referee Felix Zwayer, who officiated his 200th Bundesliga game, initially ruled offside. After video evidence, the hit was recognized. Then Masovic deflected a shot from Tobias Mohr into his own goal.
