Despite a game full of chances, especially for Fürth, neither side could convert a single one. Robert Zulj missed an open net and Johannes Wurtz was similarly poor in front of goal, as Bochum earned another positive point away from home.
Greuther Fürth were reeling when RB Leipzig grabbed a last-gasp winner in their weekend game, with their form beginning to falter towards the Christmas period. Keen to end on a high, Frank Kramer made three changes. Zhi Gin Lam, Tom Weilandt and Johannes Wurtz came into the side, as Goran Sukalo (injured), Thomas Pledl and Kacper Przybylko.
Still manager-less after Peter Neururer was sacked a week previous, Bochum had managed to pick up a 0-0 draw away at Sandhausen with Frank Heinemann as caretaker. Unfortunately for the former VfL player, Andreas Luthe was injured and Danny Latza had reached his yellow card limit. This meant that Michael Esser and Timo Perthel came into the starting eleven, with Adnan Zahirovic also replacing Onur Bulut.
Bochum began with promise, although Anthony Losilla couldn't convert following good build-up from Stanislav Sestak on the edge of the box. Johannes Wurtz had an even better chance at the other end but he skewed a volley wide from five yards out, even though he was completely unmarked. Both sides were causing problems in wide areas and, despite the excellent crossing, neither side were in the right place at the right time.
It was a game with very few clear-cut chances, but the opportunities were coming thick and fast. Simon Terodde had multiple efforts on goal, yet very few were testing Wolfgang Hesl. Marco Stiepermann was a constant menace for the hosts, though he too was unable to direct any shots on target. Losilla was pushing forward from a slightly more advanced midfield role and should have put Bochum in front; the Frenchman half-heartedly prodded the ball towards Hesl, any short of meaningful contact would have been enough to send the visitors into the dressing room with a half-time lead.
Esser was forced into a solid, early save from Stiepermann's costless-kick, as Fürth began to turn the screw. Though Sestak continued to be a threat at the other end and forced Hesl into action. At the other end, Stephan Schröck was denied by a wonderful goal-line clearance, before Robert Zulj inexplicably turned the ball over the bar. The Austrian forward then poked the ball past the post, buth Kramer's wish to convert more chances seemed like a Christmas present that would have to wait until the Hinrunde.
The Bochum goal continued to lead a charmed life, with Esser making a quite remarkable stop from Wurtz's header and his defence somehow managed to block Marco Caliguri and the following attempts. Some desperate defending prevented George Davis' run advancing any further into the box. However, neither side could find that cutting edge and the hosts were unable to make possession and chances pay, as the game ended goal-less.
The poor finishing that continues to plague Fürth continues. A game that could easily have ended with the hosts scoring four or five goals finished without a single goal for both, as Bochum notched up their second clean sheet in a row. The draw means both sides both onto twenty-two points, but drop down a place after Union Berlin's win over Karlsruher. Fürth travel to Nürnberg for the Frankenderby, while Bochum play hosts to the struggling Erzgebirge Aue.