How does Bochum and BVB derive benefit from Schalke 04's hardships?
Glancing at the football match going on at Dortmund's stadium on a dreary Friday evening, one could mistakenly believe that the players are wasting their lives' potential. The atmosphere in the Ruhr area is far from cheerful these days. Although Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum might find some solace in knowing they're doing better than FC Schalke 04, the misery in Gelsenkirchen seems insignificant compared to their own struggles.
Both clubs are carrying the weight of last week's disappointments into this encounter. Bochum allowed Aufsteiger Holstein Kiel to snatch two points and played poorly for long periods, leading to doubts about their ability to win any game this season. It's likely that they'll eventually secure a victory, but against whom and in which stadium are the pressing questions.
Meanwhile, things aren't much better for Dortmund. They're not walking around with their heads held high, confident they can dominate any opponent. Their performance against VfB Stuttgart on Sunday raised doubts about their claim to being a top team. Therefore, this 5th matchday game will unquestionably be a crisis meeting, themed "Battle of the Systems". Alarms are flashing at both locations in the industrial region. Crisis is no longer an unfamiliar feeling here, not just at steel giant Thyssen-Krupp.
Sabitzer Faces Challenges, Beier Faces None
At Dortmund, expectations were high this season. New coach Edin Terzić, who was often criticized for lacking a clear vision, was given the chance to prove himself. Co-coach Nuri Şahin took charge and generated much excitement. While he requested patience, anticipation was sky-high in the surrounding area. The transfers had raised such high hopes that the need for a common thread was overlooked: Waldemar Anton, Serhou Guirassy, Pascal Groß, and Maxi Beier, reminiscent of Thomas Müller, joined the team.
This was a clear statement to the competition and the fans. It was time for Borussia Dortmund to take off. But as with rocket launches, there are problems. Either the weather doesn't cooperate, which isn't an excuse for Dortmund, or something fails to ignite. The Dortmund team can certainly claim responsibility for this. Şahin is trying to identify the issue and keeps experimenting with different formations and strategies. Not everyone is pleased with this. Marcel Sabitzer, for example, is dissatisfied with his role on the wing, whereas Beier has yet to secure a role. Other players are facing form or expectation issues, like Felix Nmecha. Everything is in chaos, stuck at a dam, only moving slowly. Sometimes Jaime Gittens shines for Dortmund, other times Karim Adeyemi. It looks promising when it works, but it's often dull.
Şahin is making an effort not to exaggerate the situation. He promises that a repeat of the Stuttgart incident will never happen again. The system and personnel are both under scrutiny. If a recurrence occurs soon, it could become uncomfortable for the young Dortmund player. The ominous specter of the M-word debate is already looming: "It would be disastrous if I were to suggest that the boys have a mentality problem," said Şahin: "We win and lose together. We're in this together." He saw a self-critical response from his team, which is important for their team's development. Currently, they are five points behind table leaders FC Bayern, who will host Bayer Leverkusen in a showdown on Saturday evening. If Dortmund wants to stay competitive in the title race, they can't afford to fall behind by too many points, and Bochum cannot be an obstacle.
VfL Bochum Bursts Delicate Dreams
Standing amidst the chilly autumn wind is Peter Zeidler, the head coach of VfL Bochum. The conversations have quickly shifted from the most delicate European Cup dreams to existential threats about staying in the 1st League. Just before the season began, Bochum had thrashed French Ligue 1 side AC Le Havre 6-0, leaving Bochum in awe. Such a performance hadn't been seen in ages! Ambitious dreams were painted, and much was spoken. But by late September, reality had changed: a cup exit to crisis club SSV Jahn Regensburg and a draw in the Bundesliga against Kiel (2:2).
The parallels between Borussia Dortmund (BVB) and VfL Bochum are undeniable. Just like Bochum, Dortmund's counterpart was optimistic about their transfers. Yes, there were departures, key figures like Kevin Stöger and Keven Schlotterbeck. Stöger, the mastermind behind VfL's return to the Bundesliga, moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Schlotterbeck joined FC Augsburg. However, Bochum asserted that they were aiming higher, aiming to maintain their Bundesliga status for the fourth year in a row. New blood was introduced in the form of Ibrahima Sissoko and Dani de Wit, both prominent figures in their respective leagues in France and the Netherlands. Myron Boadu, a promising Dutch talent with a price tag of 20 million euros and a stint with the Dutch national team, also joined on loan, hoping to reclaim his spotlight at the Ruhrstadion and in the Bundesliga. Bochum is betting on a win-win situation, but if Boadu succeeds, they might find it hard to keep him.
However, Bochum is still far from achieving the success they dreamt of, and it's not entirely Boadu's fault. Unlike Zeidler, the coach they had envisioned a glorious future with, based on the successful Arnd Zeigler format on WDR, his diamond system hasn't quite taken off yet. Promising starts, like the narrow loss against RB Leipzig and phases against SC Freiburg, have been few and far between. Dani de Wit, a feared offensive player in the Eredivisie, hasn't been making much of an impact in his new role. Other players are also grappling with their positions and form. Borussia Dortmund, too, has asked for patience for their rebuilt team. But in football, time is a valuable commodity only when accompanied by points. Lack of points makes it the most bitter of opponents. Will there be a system change? Or maybe a coach change soon?
"We believe in the chance to make something in Dortmund," said Zeidler before the small derby: "We can only win." A derby moment similar to the one in April 2022, when VfL won 4-3 in Dortmund, would be beneficial now. It would be his first Bundesliga win as a coach and would also stir up turmoil in Dortmund's ranks. Sahin stands firm with his words: "We are all responsible and hopefully, we've learned our lessons. We must earn the three points." 80,000 fans will be in the stadium, 8,000 from Bochum. It's a Friday night, under the floodlights, and a derby is a derby, even if the pre-game mood is as somber and gloomy as a bicycle ride in the rain along the Rhine, with the Ardey mountains separating Bochum from Dortmund.
In the context of the football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum, both teams are dealing with their own challenges. Despite Bochum allowing Aufsteiger Holstein Kiel to snatch points last week, they're determined to secure a victory and are currently examining their strategies. Meanwhile, Dortmund's new coach, Edin Terzić, is experimenting with formations to improve their performance, with players like Marcel Sabitzer and Maxi Beier facing role and form issues respectively.
Following the disappointing performance against VfB Stuttgart, Dortmund's 5th matchday game against Bochum is a crucial crisis meeting, often referred to as "Battle of the Systems". The outcome of this game could significantly impact Dortmund's position in the title race, as they're currently five points behind leaders FC Bayern, who will face Bayer Leverkusen in a crucial match.
