VfL Bochum faces a harsh confrontation.

VfL Bochum fiercely slams against the barrier.

Global Four: The Relegation Play-off Drama

It's become crystal clear after the first leg of the Bundesliga relegation play-offs that VfL Bochum is nearing relegation, and Fortuna Düsseldorf is cautiously celebrating. The disastrous game on Thursday saw VfL lose in front of their own fans, eerily reminiscent of a string of negative terms in the German language - debacle, disaster, fiasco, catastrophe, horror - that could be used to describe this situation.

Fortuna Düsseldorf, a remarkably good and self-assured second division team, hold a commanding 3:0 lead heading into Monday's game. There's no need for them to even put up a good performance against VfL, given their current form. But what can VfL achieve? Well, they're hoping for a miracle. For starters, they'll need to erase that 3-goal deficit.

This downward spiral dates back to VfL's game against Werder Bremen on matchday 34, which led to the high-stakes, do-or-die play-offs. Manuel Riemann, their emotional and fiercely polarizing regular keeper, was dropped for these crucial games. He was no longer able to identify with the team's cause and had lost faith in them. Coach Heiko Butscher made this decision in an attempt to shake things up. Riemann wasn't just an emotional leader but also a top-notch goalkeeper with remarkable reflexes and impressive build-up play. Yet, he was also the 'rotten egg' in the team.

The not-so-fresh start

VfL hoped that resolving the 'Riemann case' would bring some much-needed energy. That the players would be able to perform without the constant fear of being booed for making mistakes. But all their plans were shot to pieces. Substitute Andreas Luthe, who wished Riemann had been in the box instead of him, fumbled for the first goal and allowed a deflected free-kick from Christos Tzolis to find the back of the net. The end score? A soul-crushing 0:3. The team found themselves largely subdued, with some players simply showing up for the game. They still can't bring themselves to discuss relegation or its consequences. They cling to the idea of a miracle in Bochum, despite the gloom. After intense contemplation, Patrick Fabian, decked out in black, expressed his continued faith, though he didn't seem fully convinced.

But where would this miracle come from? Fabian struggles to find a convincing answer. Yes, Düsseldorf had scored three goals here. But VfL had done the same in recent games, like against Hoffenheim or Union Berlin. But other than that? Well, not much. There was no concrete indication that things could be turned around on Monday. Fortuna's chest, which is already a snug fit in their red and white jersey, will swell even more. Bochum will be under immense pressure from their opponents and the realistic prospect of relegation.

When the final whistle blew after those unnerving 90 minutes, a strange silence fell over the Ostkurve, where there would usually be deafening cheers. There were a few angry whistles, alongside cheers and the message, "Get your asses kicked." No one in Bochum knows how to handle this team anymore. This team that has defeated FC Bayern and VfB Stuttgart. A team that frequently enchanted at the Ruhrstadion yet often collapsed during stoppage time. If games did indeed end at 90 minutes, VfL would likely be playing in Europe next season and wouldn't have to travel to Elversberg.

Goretzka joins in, dejected [

Leon Goretzka, Bayern Munich player and a former VfL member, could not contain his disappointment. On his Instagram Stories, he posted a series of images that captured his emotion; an image of himself impacted with despair, a screen recording of the game in progress, a screenshot of the final score, and a graphic that included the headline "Bochum loses." Was the end of a promising career at VfL? Would the team they loved find a way to survive? Only time would tell.

What was the atmosphere like in Ruhrstadion? It was deafeningly loud and full of emotion. Düsseldorf City was determined to keep their team in the league, and the whole city was ready to go the extra mile. The Bermuda Triangle area was packed, and the road to the stadium was tense but lighthearted. It was a warm summer evening with floodlights, and there was plenty of drama. This was a blockbuster that brought the most important people from the city back together. VfL star Leon Goretzka was seen wearing the famous Faber jersey and cheering loudly while Herbert Grönemeyer performed songs like "Who lives in Düsseldorf" and "Give every opponent a double pass, you and your VfL!" Later, he was desperate, just like everyone in the blue and whites. The crowd was electric, and even the guests, who were numerous and brought plenty of pyro to the guest block, felt the strong vibrations.

Kick-off. Düsseldorf let the ball run. After four minutes, Bochum took control and held their opponents in their own penalty area. Every ball won and every cross added to the excitement. The energy was boiling. This was looking good for VfL. Then, after 13 minutes, a corner for Düsseldorf. Tzolis saw that Luthe was a bit too far forward and slammed the ball into the Bochum box. It hit the post, bounced back, and went in, making it 0:1. Momentarily stunned, the noise resumed. Bochum corner, Bernardo rose high and headed the ball against the inside of the post (16'). The crowd cheered in disbelief. Onwards. Maximillian Wittek was through and almost scored, but the referee called it offside. The hope returned, and Bochum continued to dominate. But all their efforts were quickly overshadowed by a Fortuna team playing with uncompromising self-confidence. Stöger shot a free-kick close to the goal. Everything seemed well thought out for the visitors. They knew what they were doing, and their defense was on top of things. The full-backs were cleverly freeing themselves as well. The ball moved, and Ao Tanaka supervised the play. Bochum's efforts were futile. In the middle of the first half, passionate chaos met cold intelligence.

Losilla enters, Fortuna scores, and momentum is lost

With every movement, with every attack, Düsseldorf brought the game back on their side. They slowed down the tempo during throw-ins. Some of the players started to get provoked, react, and discuss. But they weren't playing soccer anymore. At halftime, the stadium DJ played "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. Everyone pulled out their phones, creating a cozy concert atmosphere. Journey's song couldn't reach the catacombs. The team was stumbling through the second half. With every passing minute, you could see how the team was losing itself more and more. The fact that it was only 0:3 in the end was almost the best news. Luthe saved the ball three times in the final minutes, once in cooperation with the post. Completely wrecked, the veteran disappeared to the catacombs after the debacle. He was beyond calming down and bumped into two members of the staff. Anger was present, and bewilderment at the "Ost".

No one could explain how the loss of control happened. They ran, yes. But why? No plan. Some players were so disoriented that they wanted to be subbed off early in the first half. Coach Butscher reacted late, not until the 63rd minute. Among others, captain Anthony Losilla, who had surprisingly been left out due to sports reasons, came on. Suddenly, there was more pressure in the stands. The "Captain" was a hero here, a beacon of hope. But as soon as he took to the pitch, the score was already 2-0: Fortuna had finished off a stunning counter-attack through Tzolis and Felix Klaus.

"It sounds a bit silly now ..."

Coach Daniel Thioune didn't know how to contain his joy. He ran onto the pitch, knelt down, and raised his fists to the sky. When it was 3:0 for his team ten minutes later and Yannik Engelhardt scored, he couldn't stop himself from laughing. Later, he tried to appear calm: "The team played calmly and persisted. The journey is not over yet, it was the first part. I refer to our opponents, who have also achieved good results in the past. That's why we're happy with the small lead we currently have." They reminded themselves not to say anything until it was finalized. And they told themselves to stay serious. Goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier added: "We've seen time and time again in soccer that a 3-0 lead can be turned around."

Bochum was hanging onto a sliver of hope in a desperate attempt: "It seems a bit absurd now, but if Düsseldorf can score three goals here, why can't we?" questioned the concerned playmaker Stöger. "Bochum shouldn't endure this," he said and vowed again, as he did after the loss in Bremen: "We won't quit. We still believe in ourselves." Defender Keven Schlotterbeck, who frantically attempted to maintain order at the back, stated: "We let ourselves down as a team today. But buck up - today you've been given such a shock that you can play for all or nothing on Monday. Either you depart with a 6-0 victory or you try to change things somehow." The trust in this outcome has faded away within the team. And so has the enjoyment of VfL. In a beach bar behind the stadium, someone remarked: "My father-in-law's funeral was more entertaining, aged 87, seriously ill, no more hope."