Dream of the Revierderby: Schalke and Bochum are fighting for survival!

Dream of the Revierderby: Schalke and Bochum are fighting for survival!

Today, on August 25, 2025, a glorious past will be remembered in the football paradise as FC Schalke 04 and VfL Bochum face each other in the top game of the 2nd Bundesliga. Both clubs have played an important role in the history of German football, but the present looks rather bleak for fans. Those familiar with the event, including Thomas Reis, former coach of both clubs, express their regret at the development, which has led to there being no rivalry at the highest level this season for the first time since the introduction of the Bundesliga. [n-tv] reports that the mood among supporters has reached a low point.

The two teams, who currently both have a modest three points after two matchdays, showed poor performances in the last cup round, although they moved into the next round. One bright spot, however: The fans are looking forward to today's clash, even if expectations are rather pessimistic. Older Bochum fans look back wistfully on April 27, 2007, when Schalke lost 2-1 in Bochum - a result that is seen as a trend-setter for the Royal Blues.

Strategic changes in the lineup

In today's game, Schalke coach Miron Muslic made three changes to the starting line-up. Loris Karius returned to goal, while the inclined Justin Heekeren found himself on the bench. Max Grüger had to leave due to injury, which gives Ron Schallenberg the chance to prove himself. In addition, the new player Finn Porath, who was signed from Holstein Kiel just two days earlier, was called into the squad. So enough excitement for the spectators! However, there were hardly any chances in the first half and most of the action took place in midfield. Timo Horn, the Bochum keeper, was called upon several times to parry the shots of the Schalke attackers.

History in the Ruhr area

Football in the Ruhr area has a long and eventful history. From 16 German championships to 11 DFB Cup victories, the region remains an epicenter of football today. The successes of both clubs between the 1930s and 2000s are legendary. FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund in particular have been the stars of the Bundesliga in the past. [Wikipedia] refers to the over 600 clubs that are organized in the West German Association, a third of which come from the Ruhr area.

The district derbies, particularly the clashes between Schalke and Dortmund, are an integral part of the region's football culture, but the current results raise questions. Today's duel between Schalke and Bochum could pave the way for a positive turnaround. While the two clubs are fighting for promotion back to the first division, hope for better times remains. A look at history shows that football has been resurrected many times in the Ruhr area.

With bright weather and a rousing atmosphere, we can only hope that today's actors can take the fans with them into a better future. With a 1-1 draw at half-time, in which Schalke equalized late on through a shot from Finn Porath, the question remains: can they carry on the momentum and match up to a better performance in the second half?