VfL Bochum lost 0:2 (0:1) at Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 17 of the Bundesliga.

VfL Bochum suffered an away defeat at the end of the first half of the Bundesliga. Coach Thomas Letsch’s team lost 0:2 (0:1) at Bayer Leverkusen.

The first shot on goal came from Philipp Hofmann after eight seconds, but the hosts got off to the better start. As early as the fifth minute, Moussa Diaby eluded his guardian Danilo Soares and could only be stopped in the penalty area by a foul on Keven Schlotterbeck.

Referee Timo Gerach initially allowed the ball to go ahead, but the video assistant gave him a hint. Edmond Tapsoba converted the penalty (8.). VfL almost had the right answer. Christopher Antwi-Adjei served Takuma Asano, who failed to hit Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky from close range and a somewhat acute angle (9th).

The Bochum team continued to have problems with the speed of Bayer’s offensive, which came mainly from the right side. It was not until the middle of the first half that VfL stood more compactly, as coach Thomas Letsch had demanded. Leverkusen were no longer dangerous in front of goal until the break – but neither was Bochum on the other side.

The start of the second 45 minutes was the same as the opening phase. Again Leverkusen pressed the tempo. Again with quick success. Kevin Stöger lost the ball at his own sixteen. Adam Hlozek took advantage of the lack of allocation in the Bochum defence and increased the lead to 2-0 (53rd).

Bochum tried to get back into the game through intensive duels. Antwi-Adjei had a great chance to tie the game up after a long drive by Manuel Riemann (69th), but the winger missed the ball completely free in front of Hradecky. Shortly afterwards, captain Anthony Losilla was a step too late (75th).

Even a triple change in the VfL offensive did not bring the hoped-for momentum for the final phase. Only Stöger could have made it exciting again (89.). The next match for VfL, who have now slipped back into the relegation zone, is at FSV Mainz on Saturday (28 January, 15:30). Leverkusen meet BVB on Sunday (29 January, 5:30 p.m.)