Bochum took the lead within ten minutes. An Oriol Romeu mistake meant Simon Terodde was costless to slot past Sven Ulreich. Plenty of chances fell the way of the hosts, but a combination of Ulreich and wasteful finishing prevented them from extending their lead. Terodde finished off a lovely flowing move for his and Bochum's second. The Stuttgart side that looked worryingly similar to last season's poor showing. Veh's men could only force Andreas Luthe into dealing with crosses, as the Bochum captain was a spectator for the majority of the game.
Peter Neururer's VfL Bochum side come into the game unbeaten in the 2.Bundesliga. An impressive 1-1 draw against Greuther Fürth was followed up with the 5-1 thrashing of Erzgebirge Aue, with the Ruhr valley side looking imperious for parts of the game. The return of Stanislav Šesták, addition of Simon Terodde and the promising Bochum youth players taking their first-team chance seems to have rejuvenated last season's 15th placed side. Šesták and Terodde have been in fine form, with five goals between them in the opening two games. Jan Šimůnek has added a level of leadership to a leaky defence and they look set to be dark-horses for promotion back to the Bundesliga.
Armin Veh is back at VfB Stuttgart and is keen to write the wrongs of last season. A 15th place finish for a side that had been predicted to challenge for European places was surprising, to say the least. Florian Klein, Daniel Ginczek; Filip Kostić, Adam Hloušek and Oriol Romeu have been brought in to address the problem. Veh, who won the title with Stuttgart in 2006-07, is apparently carrying 'no baggage' from that time. So said Bosnian striker Vedad Ibišević, his goals were crucial to the Swabians' survival and he also claimed that Veh was instrumental in his signing of a new contract. A massive boost for the club and they'll be looking to get off to a strong start against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The first ten minutes were a tightly contested midfield battle. However, the most serene of situations turn sour for Oriol Romeu on his Stuttgart debut. After receiving a back-pass from Sven Ulreich, the Spaniard turned to find himself closed down by three VfL players. In a panic, he kicked the ball into Simon Terodde's feet. The sizeable striker skipped past Romeu and thundered a shot past a helpless Ulreich, as Armin Veh got his second stint as Stuttgart boss off to the worst possible start. VfB tried to hit back immediately, a fast-paced counter attack meant Daniel Didavi found Martin Harnik, but he was unable to take advantage.
The rain was unrelenting initially, with both sides committing multiple fouls. This gave Didavi and Yusuke Tasaka ample opportunities to find a break-through with a set-piece, but both defences held strong and were unwilling to give a yard to an attacker. While Veh had promised exciting, attacking football; his side seemed more interested in relentlessly pumping the ball into the box. Jan Šimůnek and Patrick Fabian were not budging at all, with Romeu's 30-yard sighter the closest that the Swabians had come in the opening half an hour.
The hosts were dangerous on the counter and almost found a second. Michael Gregoritsch broke costless from the shackles of countryman Florian Klein and raced clear, only for him to pass up the chance to square for Terodde. The striker almost had his second moments later, however. A innocuous cross from Tasaka was dropped by Ulreich, an action many a goalkeeper can sympathise wise on such a day, but thankfully for him Daniel Schwaab was there to hack clear. However, the Stuttgart 'keeper was soon to redeem himself. The ball dropped kindly for Stanislav Šesták on the edge of the VfB box, before unleashing a rasping half-volley that screamed towards the top corner, which Ulreich acrobatically tipped wide.
Simon Terodde was, by far, the most player on dangerous player on the pitch and he soon had a brace. Yusuke Tasaka played the ball into Stanislav Šesták's feet, the Solvakian forward played in Terodde and the result was never in doubt. The striker calmly passed past Sven Ulreich, with not even the rain able to dampen Peter Neururer and his umbrella's joy. The troublesome Šesták was a constant threat and almost had a deserved goal of his own, but Ulreich was alert at his near post. Chances were at a premium for the remainder of the game, as Stuttgart couldn't force Luthe into any meaningful saves. If anything, Bochum were the most likely side to extend their lead, with the sun coming out just before the end and allowing VfL to close the game out in style.
A more than deserved result for Bochum was earned with little or no problems at the back. Stuttgart were poor and looked limp and lifeless, worrying signs for Armin Veh with a trip to Gladbach on the horizon. The Bochum fans will have a cup run to go with their impressive league form. A welcome return to some form for the North Rhine-Westphalians, who seem set to trouble the 2.Bundesliga promotion places this year.