Monday night's 2.Bundesliga game saw Gertjan Verbeek returning to face his former side, Nürnberg, and it was a happy return for the Dutchman.
Nürnberg have lost their last two games and needed to turn things around quickly to avoid dropping down the table any further. Bochum have started to slowly turn things around after some poor form over the last few months have seen them fly down the table. They went into the game with two wins and three draws in their last five games.
Nürnberg made a terrific start to the game and after just six minutes they already had a number of attempts on goal. The first attempt saw Jakub Sylvestr's shot on the turn inside the box blocked after he was picked out by Sebastian Kerk. Up next was Kerk's turn to have a go, a long throw found it's way to him and his volley was well struck, however it was straight at Michael Esser.
Shortly after Kerk's effort Sylvestr tried his luck from range and it forced Esser into tipping the effort over the bar. The resulting corner created an opportunity, Guido Burgstaller shot from the right side of the area and it was a close effort which went across goal and just wide.
The hosts continued to dominate proceedings and they should've taken the lead in the 16th minute. Burgstaller was fouled on the right wing and Kerk's delivery was a great one to find the head of Ondrej Celustka and unfortunately for the home side he headed inches wide when it was easier to hit the target.
Bochum were very quiet in attack and most of their move's broke down in the final third, despite that they managed to take a surprise lead in the 38th minute. A cross from the left found Simon Terodde and the striker dived forward to brilliantly chest the ball down to the edge of the area, this allowed the unmarked Marco Terrazzino to have a free strike at goal and he didn't disappoint. The left footed effort flew into the top corner leaving Raphael Schäfer with no chance.
Early in the second half Terrazzino had the chance to double his and his team's tally, Stanislav Šesták's cross from the right was missed by Terodde and this allowed Terrazzino to try his luck once more. This time however the net didn't bulge and Schäfer was able to save.
Another golden chance fell to the home side just after the hour mark and once again it was Sylvestr. The Slovakian found space in the area, however he could only drag the shot wide.
This missed proved costly as two minutes later Bochum doubled their lead. This Terrazzino was the provider for Terodde, his through ball saw the striker calmly slot through the legs of Schäfer for his 14th goal of the season.
The home side responded by bringing on Peniel Mlapa and it was a move that paid off. Two minutes after coming on he was picked out by Sylvestr and a great touch took him past his marker and he fired past Esser.
The introduction of Mlapa sparked Nürnberg back into life and they were starting to cause plenty of problems for Bochum. Another substitute almost found the back of the net, Niklas Stark's shot on the turn forced Esser into making a great save low down to his left.
The hosts came agonisingly close to a leveller in the 88th minute, a lovely corner in saw Even Hovland leap the highest and his header cannoned off the bar before being cleared.
Bochum were able to hang on to their slim lead as Nürnberg piled on the pressure. It was a much needed victory for the visitors, their first away win under Verbeek sees them move up to 8th, while Nürnberg drop down a place and into 11th. Up next for Nürnberg is a trip to face RB Leipzig after the international break, while Bochum come up against promotion chasers Darmstadt.