Philipp Hofmann and Gerrit Holtmann’s goals in either half saw bottom side Bochum stun Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin.

Bochum 2-1 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Hofmann 43’ (assist: Förster), 2-0 Holtmann 71’ (assist: Antwi-Adjei), 2-1 Pantovic 90'+3

Bochum and Union were worlds apart coming into this Matchday 11 fixture. Separated by 19 points and the entire Bundesliga table, it also saw the division’s leakiest defence up against its meanest. However, the basement dwellers and leaders cancelled each other out at the Ruhrstadion. It took 27 minutes for either side to break the midfield battle of attrition as Hofmann met a Cristian Gamboa free-kick but only headed at goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow. It took another 10 minutes for Union to register an effort when Jordan ran onto a low corner but failed to get any power behind his shot. Hofmann only needed physical strength when the deadlock was finally broken, outmuscling his markers at a corner to flick in Philipp Förster’s delivery from the right.

Sensing that this could be their day for just a second win of the campaign, the fans inside the Ruhrstadion turned up the volume to urge their side on. With Union struggling to get going at all – and ex-VfL man Milos Pantovic firing an effort wide – Bochum came closest to a second when Jordi Osei-Tutu rattled the crossbar. They did finally double their advantage with 20 minutes to go as Christopher Antwi-Adjei squared for substitute Holtmann to guide home unchallenged. The Berliners were handed a lifeline when awarded a penalty on review, but Pantovic was denied by his former teammate Manuel Riemann. Pantovic did finally hit the back of the net three minutes into added time but it was too late as Union's second defeat of the campaign saw their advantage at the top cut to just a single point ahead of Bayern Munich. Bochum, meanwhile, brought up just their second win of the season to move off the bottom ahead of Schalke’s game at Hertha Berlin.

Watch: Holtmann: "We're slowly giving our fans what they need"

Match stats

• This was the first time since Ingolstadt’s 1-0 win over RB Leipzig in December 2016 that the bottom team had beaten the league leaders.
• Bochum have scored seven goals in four games under Thomas Letsch, with four coming from set pieces. They failed to score any from dead balls before he took over this season.
• Bochum gave away their eighth penalty of the campaign (caused by eight different players). Never before has a team conceded so many penalties at this stage of a Bundesliga season.
• However, Riemann saved a penalty for the third time this season. Eight out of 14 spot-kicks he’s faced in the Bundesliga have been missed.
• Holtmann got his first Bundesliga goal as a substitute in his 34th appearance from the bench. His first eight goals had all been as a starter.
• Sheraldo Becker has been subbed off on all 11 matchdays this season.

Watch: Fischer: "We tried everything"

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Teams

Bochum: Riemann - Gamboa (Oermann 87'), Masovic, Ordets, Soares - Losilla (c), Stöger - Osei-Tutu (Holtmann 65’), Förster (Stadylidis 79’), Antwi-Adjei (Osterhage 79’)- Hofmann (Ganvoula 65’)
Unused subs: Esser, Lampropoulos, Heintz, Horn
Out: Asano (knee), Grave (shoulder), Goralski (muscular), Mousset (fitness), Zoller (muscular)
Coach: Thomas Letsch

Union: Ronnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c) (Skarke 71’), Schäfer, Khedira, Haberer (Pantovic 20’), Gießelmann (Ryerson 63’) - Becker (Leweling 63’), Jordan (Behrens 63’)
Unused subs: Grill, Seguin, Haraguchi, Baumgartl
Out: Möhwald (fitness)
Coach: Urs Fischer

Watch: Trimmel: "It's a great snapshot"

About the clubs

VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei