Bochum nails Union Berlin in the basement of the table

All hope gone again. After two strong performances against Gladbach and Real Madrid, Union Berlin suffered a thrashing in Bochum. New coach Bjelica faces old problems in the Bundesliga. The other two teams in the basement, Mainz and Darmstadt, had disappointing home games.

VfL Bochum - 1. FC Union Berlin 3:0 (1:0)

After bidding farewell to the big European stage, Union Berlin slipped back into the relegation battle. Four days after the 2:3 defeat in their last Champions League match against Real Madrid, the Ironmen lost 3:0 (0:1) at direct rivals VfL Bochum. After the tenth defeat of the season on the 15th matchday in the Bundesliga, the team is in danger of spending the winter in the relegation places.

Takuma Asano (45.+5), Gonçalo Paciência (54) and Kevin Stöger (78, penalty after video evidence) scored to secure VfL's second home win in a row. The Westphalians extended their lead over Berlin to six points. For Union, the last game of the year on Wednesday (6.30 pm) against 1. FC Köln will be a final match. Bochum, on the other hand, can travel to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen relatively relaxed.

VfL coach Thomas Letsch made four changes from the 3-1 defeat at TSG Hoffenheim, including Paciencia and Christopher Antwi-Adjei in the starting eleven in attack, while central defender Keven Schlotterbeck also returned from yellow card suspension. Union coach Nenad Bjelica was without the injured international Robin Gosens, while the Croatian had one more attacking player than against Real in Sheraldo Becker.

The fans were not entirely united when it came to boycotting the match due to the German Football League (DFL) investor deal: "VfL, VfL" chants were heard repeatedly from various corners of the stadium, which were met with whistles from the organized scene. The game began in a similarly disorganized manner: Bochum had the first big chance with a header from Kevin Stöger (3rd), but many passes ended up with the opponent on both sides. Exactly twelve minutes into the game, a hail of tennis balls came from the Union curve and referee Sven Jablonski had to interrupt the match for four minutes. "You're ruining our sport," chanted the fans of both clubs in unison.

When the big ball started rolling again, Asano narrowly missed the Berlin goal with an overhead kick (18'). The hosts continued to dominate: Paciencia failed to beat Union keeper Frederik Rönnow (28), as did Asano a little later (31). The visitors needed a botched clearance from Schlotterbeck to create their first chance, but the defender himself saved Janik Haberer's shot just off the line (33).

It took until stoppage time for VfL to take a well-deserved lead: Asano scored from a Stöger corner. Shortly after the break, Paciencia finished off an exemplary counter-attack from goalkeeper Manuel Riemann via Asano and Antwi-Adjei to make it 2-0. This sealed the victory.

SV Darmstadt - VfL Wolfsburg 0:1 (0:0)

The discussion about coach Niko Kovač at VfL Wolfsburg is over for now. Despite being short-handed for a long time, the club from Lower Saxony won 1:0 (0:0) at bottom club Darmstadt 98. Wolfsburg had previously picked up just four points in eight matches and were eliminated from the DFB Cup. Lovro Majer (63) scored the decisive goal for VfL, who avoided their seventh away defeat in a row. The early dismissal of Wolves' defender Maxence Lacroix after an emergency brake (27') did Darmstadt no good. The Hessians have been waiting eight games for a win.

"Of course we know how important the game is. We have a duty," said Kovač shortly before kick-off on Sky: "I know that I have to deliver as a coach - I know the business." Sporting director Marcel Schäfer recently expressed his confidence in his coach. VfL face record champions Bayern Munich in their final game of the year on Wednesday.

In front of 16,900 spectators, the visitors had their first chance in the 3rd minute. However, Mattias Svanberg's shot could not get past Darmstadt goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen. The fans also protested in Darmstadt against the green light given by German professional soccer to a financial backer. "Our vote should have prevented the DFL investor," read a banner from the Lilies supporters. After a quarter of an hour, the game had to be interrupted for two and a half minutes due to a mass of pyrotechnics being set off in the visitors' fan block.

When soccer was played again, fighting was the order of the day. The hosts, who had to make do without captain Fabian Holland, Aaron Seydel, Fraser Hornby, Braydon Manu, Oscar Vilhelmsson, Marvin Mehlem and Christoph Zimmermann, were more convincing than Wolfsburg for the most part. In addition, the visitors quickly weakened themselves. Lacroix was sent off by referee Robert Hartmann (Wangen). The Frenchman had previously lost the ball to Luca Pfeifer and fouled his opponent as the "last man".

With ten men, Wolfsburg, who were missing the suspended captain Maximilian Arnold, Lukas Nmecha, Rogerio, Amin Sarr and Patrick Wimmer, concentrated on defending. The uninspired Darmstadt side failed to create any goals in a very weak match up to the break. Things got a little better in the second half. Both teams at least created a few half-chances. Majer put VfL ahead with the first successful finish of the game. Pfeifer missed a great opportunity to equalize in the 76th minute.

1. FSV Mainz 05 - 1. FC Heidenheim 0:1 (0:1)

FSV Mainz 05's situation in the fight against relegation is becoming ever more threatening. One week after the 0:0 draw at 1. FC Köln, the team of coach Jan Siewert lost 0:1 (0:1) to 1. FC Heidenheim and thus missed the next chance for a much-needed escape against a direct competitor.

As a result, the promoted team increased the gap to Mainz, who remain in a direct relegation spot, to eight points. Marvin Pieringer (12th) fired Heidenheim (17 points) to their second win in a row, while the 05ers (9) conceded their second defeat in the sixth game under Siewert.

The first ever competitive match between the two clubs was a tough fare in terms of play for long stretches - the omens had already foreshadowed this, as the weakest home team welcomed the worst away team in the league. "It's not about a nice game, it's about points," Siewert had emphasized beforehand.

And while the organized fans remained silent for the first twelve minutes of the match in protest against the controversial DFL investor deal, they did not actually get to see a pretty game on the pitch. However, Pieringer scored almost exactly at the end of the boycott to give Heidenheim the lead - as so often after a resting ball.

The hosts, who had recently shown poor finishing in Cologne (0-0) and against Freiburg (0-1) despite numerous chances, also struggled on Saturday despite having a larger share of the game. FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller reacted strongly when Brajan Gruda (26) and Marco Richter (32) were the most dangerous shots from Mainz.

Heidenheim largely restricted themselves to defensive work in front of 27,200 spectators, with hardly anything going forward after the opening goal. However, as Mainz also did little despite their efforts, the game was played out at a very manageable level.

Mainz upped the tempo after the break, but were still unlucky with their finishing. Ludovic Ajorque (49') hit the far right post, Jonathan Burkardt (51') the left shortly afterwards, and the ball landed on the outside of the net after Lennard Maloney (52') made a mistake.

Mainz pressed and created further good opportunities through Richter (67th/69th) and substitute Marcus Müller (74th), who was making his Bundesliga debut. Heidenheim's lead became increasingly flattering.