The early season league leaders, Bochum have really struggled in recent months and now find themselves in 12th place. Bochum have found a win hard to come by, just one win in the last fourteen league games, draws however are a different story, in those fourteen games they've managed eight draws. At home Bochum are tough to beat, this season they've won once at home and lost once, while drawing eight. Braunschweig find themselves in much better form than their hosts, since the start of October they've lost just three times, drawing twice and winning seven. Braunschwieg are in 5th place and will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat to Kaiserslautern last weekend, Bochum will also be looking to bounce back from defeat as they lost away to Union Berlin. Bochum edge this fixture and they were the victors when the two met at the end of August, a brace from Simon Terodde saw them win 2-1.
Braunschweig didn't mess about and three minutes into the game they took the lead thanks to an excellent strike from Mirko Boland. The midfielder was allowed to run through Bochum's half unchallenged and he curled a lovely effort into the top corner for his second goal of the season.
Bochum looked for a quick response and they almost managed just that, a corner was met by the head of Anthony Losilla and it narrowly went over Rafal Gikiewicz's bar.
Bochum struck some luck as Braunschweig's top scorer Håvard Nielsen was forced off early on due to an injury, he was replaced by Jan Hochscheidt after eleven minutes.
Boland continued to find plenty of space in midfield and before the twenty minute mark he tried his luck once more from outside the area, this time he didn't strike it as well as his goal and Michael Esser comfortably saved down to his right.
Braunschweig were the better side and looked far better going forward, they defended well as they stopped anything getting into their area. Bochum helped matters with their poor passes going forward.
Bochum started to come out on top in this battle as the game started edging towards half time and ten minutes from the break they managed to get themselves level. Marco Terrazzino's cross was chested down by Patrick Fabian and it dropped perfectly for Terodde, who smashed home for his first goal since November.
Bochum wasted no time in grabbing a second, five minutes later they completed the turnaround. Another cross from the right saw Terrazzino turn from provider to scorer, he managed to slide in and poke Stefano Celozzi's cross past Gikiewicz.
Bochum were beaming with confidence and they came close to third before half time, Terodde brushed aside two defenders before laying the ball off to Thomas Eisfeld, his effort from range forced Gikiewicz into making a good save.
It was a fantastic finish to the half for the hosts and they were hoping they could hold on and earn their second victory at home.
That second win at home was looking very likely as they extended their lead a couple of minutes in the second half. Terrazzino managed to get past Marcel Correia and the Portuguese defender could only bring him down in the area. Terodde stepped up for the penalty and terrifically fired past Gikiewicz.
After the shock of conceding so early on in the half Braunschweig settled back into the game and started to have more possession. However nothing ever came of it, both sides were providing a good battle especially in midfield. Unfortunately their was a lack of chances, most efforts came from range or set pieces which was comfortably dealt by both keepers.
Bochum came close to a fourth goal just over twenty minutes from the end, a freekick on the edge of the area saw Eisfeld's effort go narrowly wide, coming close to a goal on his first start. Moments later they should've got that fourth goal, Onur Bulut headed down a cross into the path of Selim Gündüz, after taking a touch he rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike.
Fourteen minutes from time Hendrick Zuck thought he'd grabbed a goal back for his side and he would've done had it not been for Esser. Zuck produced a brilliant strike at goal and somehow the Bochum keeper managed to flick the effort just over the bar. An excellent save which prevented some late Braunschweig pressure.
The Bochum was called into action once more in the 83rd minute, Nik Omladič unleashed a great freekick at goal and Esser had to palm the shot over the bar. The resulting corner saw the ball headed away, however only to Damir Vrančić, his low drive took a deflection on it's way in off Benjamin Kessel, the right back looked offside and the referee allowed for the goal to stand after speaking to his linesman.
Bochum almost responded instantly, a ball from the right saw Terodde flick the ball up on the turn and his volleyed shot cannoned off the post, once again the woodwork came to Braunschweig's rescue, denying Terodde his hat trick in the process.
Braunschweig provided the expected late pressure after their second and despite this they couldn't get past Esser in the Bochum goal. The closest they came saw Omladič drive in a low freekick from range and Esser managed to get across and keep hold of the shot.
Bochum managed to pressure well and picked up their second home win of the season. For now that see's Bochum move up one place and into 11th, next week they'll be hoping to climb the table more with a win over high flying Karlsruher. Two losses in a row since the leagues return for Braunschweig and they'll need to turn it around next Monday when they host RB Leipzig.