Three VfL Bochum players were previously under contract with their upcoming opponent. Braunschweig marks the continuation of a series of bottom-of-the-table showdowns for VfL.
Gerrit Holtmann is currently enjoying a “second wind” with second-division soccer club VfL Bochum. As recently as this summer, it seemed likely he would leave, but he ultimately agreed with the club to extend his contract through June 30, 2027.
After the 30-year-old missed the first matchday due to illness and was only brought on as a substitute on the second matchday, he has been a fixture in VfL’s starting lineup in the league since the third round. Including DFB Cup matches, Holtmann has now made twelve competitive appearances.
He has been extremely successful: he has scored five goals and provided one assist. His goal to make it 2-0 in the match against 1. FC Magdeburg—a key game in the fight against relegation—was particularly important. Now, in the coming weeks, Bochum faces a series of matches against direct rivals at the bottom of the table.
The series kicks off with an away game at Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday, November 9, at 1:30 p.m. For Holtmann, this is a special match, as he played for Eintracht himself between 2014 and 2016 and still maintains a connection to the club. Along with him, his teammates Philipp Hofmann (2018–2019) and Philipp Strompf (2021–2023) are also familiar with the atmosphere at Eintracht Braunschweig from their time there.
Ahead of the game, Holtmann expressed mixed feelings: “I’m heading to Braunschweig with mixed feelings. Both teams are in a difficult situation and fighting against relegation. I would have hoped for things to be different—especially that we’d be higher up in the standings.”
A win on Sunday could, however, give VfL a further boost, as the Bochum team is currently on the rise. The situation is different for Braunschweig: After a promising start to the season, the Lower Saxony side has won only one of its last nine games.
But it’s not just the Braunschweig game that matters. The upcoming matches against Dresden and Fürth will also be pivotal.
Holtmann takes a clear-eyed view of this decisive phase: “These are three games of enormous importance. But both we as a team and our fans can assess the situation objectively. Our goal remains to get the most out of it—that’s our direction.”
Looking ahead to the next opponent, the left winger emphasizes: “We can’t let ourselves be intimidated by Braunschweig’s intense style of play and must remain solid defensively—just as we have in the last four games. If we keep it tight at the back, it will be hard for our opponents to score against us.” cb /gp