Bayer Leverkusen won a friendly match on Sunday evening. At the Vonovia-Ruhrstadion, Erik ten Hag's team proved too strong for VfL Bochum, securing a 2-0 victory.
After a difficult 2023/24 season that ended in heartbreak, VfL Bochum now finds itself preparing for life in the 2. Bundesliga.
Relegation came as a bitter blow to the club and its passionate fanbase, but the rebuilding process is already underway. Sunday evening's friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, held at the club’s iconic Vonovia-Ruhrstadion on Castroper Straße, provided a valuable opportunity to measure progress ahead of the new league campaign, which begins next week. Though Bochum ultimately fell 0-2 to the reigning Bundesliga champions, the performance showed signs of improvement, with the team holding their own for large portions of the match.
The setting was ideal for a summer friendly: a vibrant crowd filled the stands of the compact but atmospheric Ruhrstadion, eager to see how their team would fare against elite opposition. Despite the disappointment of relegation, the fans were vocal and supportive, clearly determined to back their team through the transition period. Facing a side of Leverkusen’s calibre fresh off a historic domestic double and boasting one of the most talented squads in Europe was no easy task. Still, Bochum approached the match with discipline and determination, seeking to restore confidence and cohesion within the squad.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, arrived in Bochum with a point to prove. After suffering a heavy defeat in their previous preseason outing a rare misstep for a team that had been nearly flawless the season before Erik ten Hag’s side was under pressure to respond. The Dutch manager, who recently took the reins at Leverkusen following his departure from Manchester United, is still getting to know his players and shaping the squad in his image. Sunday's win was a step in the right direction.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half when veteran midfielder Jonas Hofmann found space just outside the box and rifled a precise shot past the Bochum goalkeeper. It was a well-taken goal that underlined Hofmann’s quality and importance to Leverkusen’s plans for the new season. Bochum attempted to respond but struggled to create clear-cut chances against Leverkusen’s organized back line.
In the second half, the match continued with a similar rhythm: Bochum worked hard and maintained their shape, while Leverkusen controlled possession and waited for opportunities to extend their lead. That moment came through Patrik Schick, who made his mark after coming on as a substitute. The Czech striker, returning to full fitness after a lengthy injury spell last season, capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home Leverkusen’s second goal, sealing the 2-0 result.
Although the loss adds to Bochum’s preseason struggles, the overall performance was encouraging. The defensive unit showed greater structure than in earlier friendlies, and several young players got valuable minutes. With the 2. Bundesliga campaign around the corner, head coach Heiko Butscher will be hoping these tough matchups will sharpen his squad and foster resilience.
For Leverkusen, the win was important not just for morale, but also for rhythm. With Ten Hag beginning to implement his tactical vision a more possession-based approach with structured pressing and quick transitions each preseason fixture serves as a crucial building block. The players responded well to the challenge in Bochum, and the clean sheet was an added bonus.
Looking ahead, Bayer Leverkusen has a packed preseason schedule that includes matches against Dutch side Fortuna Sittard, Italian outfit Pisa, and Premier League giants Chelsea. These fixtures are designed to test the squad against a variety of styles before competitive football begins. Their first official match comes on August 15 in the DFB-Pokal, with an away trip to lower-league SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. One week later, they kick off their Bundesliga title defense at home against 1899 Hoffenheim a game that will likely set the tone for the new season.
While Bochum’s immediate focus will be on returning to the top flight, Leverkusen has their eyes set on defending their crown and making a deeper impact in Europe. Sunday’s match may have been a friendly on paper, but for both clubs, it served as a clear marker of where they are and where they’re heading.
