BOC Bochum Bochum - BSC Hertha Hertha Berlin

BOC

BSC

17'

Ruhrstadion

Wolfgang Haslberger

14'

Over the bar

Following a corner, Karademir's attempt goes over the crossbar.

First shot on goal

Sessa shoots from distance but misses by a wide margin.

That was risky!

Hertha have a brief scare. Brekalo plays an inaccurate back pass towards Gersbeck, who manages to clear the ball just in time.

Not dangerous enough

The corner attempt floats straight into the arms of Horn.

First corner

Will it be dangerous?

Calm opening phase

Both sides are still feeling each other out.

The match is underway!

Hosts Bochum get the ball rolling.

Kick-off!

Here come the players

The new Bundesliga 2 season is about to kick off...

0:40

Rösler firing up the Bochum fans

The trophy is here too!

0:14

A first look inside the stadium

0:36

The warm-up is underway

Starting XI debut

Gouram makes his first senior start today. It is the second Bundesliga 2 match for the player from the club's own youth academy.

More on that Hertha side

The only new signing, Adewumi, starts on the bench. In goal is Gersbeck following the departure of Ernst, while Brekalo leads the side onto the pitch as captain.

Starting line-up: Hertha BSC

Formation:4-2-3-1

Starting line-up: VfL Bochum 1848

Formation:4-2-3-1

0:34

Bochum & Hertha to raise Bundesliga 2 curtain

No more Reese

Hertha will have to mount this season's promotion challenge without Fabian Reese, who has joined Wolfsburg. He scored 10 goals last season and registered a league-high 13 assists before departing the capital club in the summer, leaving a huge hole to fill on that left-wing.

Room for improvement

Bochum (ninth) and Hertha (seventh) both finished well short of the top three and a possible return to the Bundesliga in 2025/26, meaning both will look to begin this new campaign with a win. Both have added some new faces to their ranks and will be ready for a fresh start in 2026/27.

Stefan Leitl on pre-season preparations

"I have a very good feeling [for the Bochum game]. We had a good pre-season; we were able to complete our full programme and reintegrate players. The warm-up matches went well, and the team seems very cohesive. Now, there is great anticipation for Friday's game. We want to bring the level of play we showed during the pre-season onto the pitch. That is the task at hand."

Uwe Rösler on facing Hertha Berlin

"Our first goal of the season is an interim target. We want to secure 10 points and advance in the [DFB Cup] by the time the first international break arrives. By the winter break, we want to be in a position to challenge at the top of the table. 'Hard to beat'—that’s our motto. Hertha have had a lot of departures, but there will still be some personnel changes. Their best 14 or 15 players make for a top-class team; we are absolutely on equal footing. We have to deliver a top performance—that’s all that matters."

Bochum out in front - just

Hertha are winless in their last five meetings with Bochum in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, having won their previous five games against the Ruhr district outfit. That recent run has nudged Bochum ahead in the head-to-head department, with 21 victories (to Hertha’s 20) in 56 encounters.

2:15

Watch: Hertha 1-1 Bochum - previous meeting

Uwe Rösler's side put a major dent in Hertha's promotion push with a stoppage-time equaliser at the Olympiastadion.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 1 fixture between Bochum and Hertha Berlin.

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