While Alemannia Aachen did their homework at the top of the table in the Regionalliga West, the chasing pack stumbled. One basement team benefits.

Alemannia Aachen defended their lead at the top of the Regionalliga West table with a commanding 4-0 win over FC Gütersloh. There was never any doubt about the outcome of the game at the Tivoli.

Kilian Pagliuca put them ahead after just seven minutes, with Marc Brasnic quickly making it 2-0 in the 20th minute. After the break, Thilo Töpken (52nd) and Sasa Strujic (56th) increased the score.

For 1. FC Bocholt, a 0-0 draw at SC Wiedenbrück was only enough to keep pace with league leaders Aachen. Bocholt simply could not get into the opposing penalty area.

The other teams chasing Alemannia also had a tough time. Third-placed Fortuna Cologne could not get past bottom-placed SV Lippstadt 08 for a 2-2 draw. The goals were initially scored by Niek Munsters (42nd) and Henri Carlo Matter (62nd).

Then the underdog even took the lead – Lars Holtkamp scored to make it 2-1 (73rd). However, the lead did not last long – Dominik Lanius (78) equalized immediately.

Wuppertal lose to basement-dwellers Wegberg-Beeck

Wuppertaler SV, for their part, suffered a 3-1 defeat at FC Wegberg-Beeck. Lion Schweers had put them 1-0 up in the 9th minute after an early breakaway.

But then Wegberg-Beeck turned it around, scoring three times in 22 minutes through Timo Bornemann (50′), Shpend Hasani (61′) and Bornemann again (72′).

While FC Wegberg-Beeck are celebrating a very important victory in the relegation battle and doing something to avoid extending their relegation record, Wuppertal barely have to look at the top of the table. Alemannia Aachen are now a whopping ten points away.

After Fortuna Cologne’s draw, WSV is in fourth place. The duo could slip even further if RWO wins against Fortuna Düsseldorf II on Sunday, February 25.

Meanwhile, the second team of FC Schalke 04 drew 0-0 at SV Rödinghausen. In the small Rhenish derby, the reserves of 1. FC Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach also drew 1-1 after goals from Oliver Schmitt (68th) and Jacob Italiano (75th).