The women of VfL Bochum can make the leap from the Regionalliga West to the 2nd Bundesliga. But the champions still have to prove themselves in two promotion matches.
Without a single defeat, the women of VfL Bochum have completed the first half of the season in the Regionalliga West with aplomb. A goal difference of 55:5 indicates an almost flawless first half of the season.
Coach Kyra Malinowski’s team only had to concede a draw against second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. They are still some way off second place in the table with a gap of eight points.
In order for the run to continue in the second half of the season, a lot of work was done on group and individual tactics in preparation. “It’s important that we continue to internalize the processes. In the end, nobody cares if you’re at the top after the first half of the season,” Malinowski sums up.
The first women’s team of Hamburger SV and SG 99 Andernach were deliberately chosen as two second division opponents during the preparation phase. Although both matches were lost (1:4 against HSV and 3:4 against Andernach), Malinowski is satisfied with the preparation overall: “We got back into the rhythm quickly and were able to give all the players time on the pitch to show themselves.”
New goalkeeper comes from the SGS Essen U20s
Goalkeeper Svea Resing joined the team in mid-February, coming from SGS Essen U20 to replace Ricarda Rumohr, who is spending a semester abroad. “I still know Svea from our time together in Essen. She’s extremely strong on the line and will be able to help us on and off the pitch,” said the coach, summarizing the 18-year-old’s qualities.
You can tell that the girls are really up for it and they’re always stepping on the gas
Kyra Malinowski
On Saturday (February 24), the Regionalliga West gets underway again. The 35-time Bundesliga player is optimistic that her team can build on the performances from the first 13 games: “The quality of the squad has risen again and we are better positioned across the board. You can tell that the girls are really up for it and they’re always stepping on the gas.”
Regionalliga West champions do not automatically advance to the 2nd Women’s Bundesliga
It would therefore be all the more bitter if the VfL women were to become champions at the end of the season but not be promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. The champions of the regional leagues have to play each other again in two promotion matches. If the Bochum women are still at the top at the end of the season, they would face the champions of the Regionalliga Südwest in a first and second leg.
The 31-year-old coach sums up how annoying it would be not to be promoted in the end: “I think everyone can imagine how painful it would be if you played an almost perfect season and then failed in two promotion matches. That would be worse than failing to gain promotion over the course of the season. “