In the live ticker: Expansion in Düsseldorf

The situation for the VfL Bochum is extremely bad. After the first leg of Bundesliga relegation, we find ourselves with our backs against the wall: Fortuna Dusseldorf won the match in Bochum 3-0. Before the second leg on Monday evening (8:30 p.m., Sat 1 And Sky) finished 16th in the Bundesliga. But last season we didn’t give up: “We tried to rebuild the team. I cannot say whether that was successful,” said coach Heiko Butscher, but called for “aggressiveness, intensity, passion and attitude – until the final whistle.”

Coach Daniel Thioune’s hosts, on the other hand, already have one foot in the Bundesliga. It would be the seventh promotion for Fortuna, which ended the second division season in third place. However, Thioune warned of a difficult second stage: “The Bochum team will put everything on one card, we are prepared for that,” said the coach, who was nevertheless confident: “The boys can always adapt quickly.” If the campaign is successful, there will be a big party on Düsseldorf’s town hall square on Tuesday.

Live: Düsseldorf is challenged against Bochum

The outcome of the match also depends on how long the summer holidays last for both clubs. The 2nd Bundesliga starts again on August 2 – more than two weeks after the end of the European Championship. However, the new season in Germany’s top division does not start until August 23 – three weeks later than in the lower house.