Niclas Füllkrug leads Borussia Dortmund to victory against VfL Bochum

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Back on course for the Champions League: Borussia Dortmund with Niclas Füllkrug

Photo: Beautiful Sports / Meusel / IMAGO

Borussia Dortmund also won the third Bundesliga game in 2024. In the 3-1 (1-1) home game against VfL Bochum, Niclas Füllkrug took the lead early with a penalty (6th minute), Bochum equalized with an own goal from Nico Schlotterbeck shortly before the break (45th). Once again Füllkrug scored with a header for BVB to make it 2-1 (72') and scored his second penalty in the final phase to make it 3-1 (90'+1) - the hat trick was perfect.

In the table, BVB overtakes RB Leipzig and moves up to fourth place. Bochum remains in 14th place and is eight points ahead of a relegation place.

Coach Edin Terzic's Dortmund team has recorded two wins so far in 2024: 3-0 in Darmstadt and 4-0 in Cologne. In the table, the black and yellow were able to fight their way back into the Champions League places. Bochum traveled to BVB with a surprising home win last week against VfB Stuttgart. VfL is not exactly one of Dortmund's favorite opponents: there have only been two wins in the last six duels.

Füllkrug scores from the spot, Schlotterbeck scores an own goal

Dortmund got off to a powerful start in front of their home crowd. A bad pass from Salih Özcan ended up in a detour to Donyell Malen, who was then brought down by Bochum keeper Manuel Riemann in the penalty area. When the penalty was due, Füllkrug beat the VfL goalkeeper and turned the ball flat into the left corner without much pressure (6th).

Not much remained of the strong initial phase for BVB: although the black and yellow had more of the game, they were no longer compelling. BVB midfielders Marcel Sabitzer and Salih Özcan were too disjointed in the build-up to the game.

Bochum, on the other hand, remained courageous despite being behind, ran high and countered with speed. That paid off: By chance the ball found its way to Bochum's Patrick Osterhage, who crossed the ball into the six-yard box. BVB goalkeeper Alexander Meyer came out to intercept the ball. However, because Schlotterbeck intervened, the ball ended up in his own goal (45th).

It wasn't until the 65th minute that BVB became more determined in their offensive actions again. The substitution of Jamie-Bynoe-Gittens, who made it 2-1 a short time later, brought new quality. In the penalty area, the 19-year-old Marcel Sabitzer set the scene on the baseline, who served Füllkrug at the second post with a cross. Dortmund's striker jumped higher than his two opponents and nodded the ball halfway into the left corner. The game then ended as it had begun: Füllkrug scored again from the spot after a foul on Bynoe-Gittens to make it 3-1, thus completing his hat trick.

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